FG should help us pay ransom, say parents of Greenfield University students

Parents of the abducted students from Greenfield University, Kaduna, have appealed to the federal government to help pay ransom before “something sinister happens to the children”.

Gunmen had attacked the institution on April 18 and abducted some students.

The state is yet to confirm the exact number of students taken hostage.

The kidnappers subsequently killed three of the students, and later another two, while reportedly negotiating an N800 million ransom with the parents.

Speaking in a telephone conversation with the Hausa service of the Voice of America (VOA), one Sani Idris Jalingo who identified himself as the leader of the bandits, had said 17 of the students are still in their custody.

He threatened to kill the remaining students if a ransom of N100 million in addition to 10 new Honda motorcycles were not provided.

He also claimed that the families of the abducted students had already paid N55 million, adding that money had been spent on feeding the students.

However, on May 4, one of the students was released.

Speaking on Friday in Kaduna during a special prayer session for the release of the students, Marcus Zarmai, spokesman for the parents, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the safe release of their children.

According to him, the kidnappers have  demanded the sum of N10 million for each student, making it a total of N160 million for 16 students. 

“We are worried about their safety. The innocent students had spent 24 days in the kidnappers’ den,” he said.

“Even after we the parents have collectively paid them over N60 million ransom for the release of our children, they failed to release them.

“We the parents are appealing to the federal government to assist us to pay the ransom demanded or find any other way to ensure the safe return of our children.”