THE families of 286 students and staff abducted from a school in northern Nigeria last week have revealed that the gunmen responsible for the kidnapping are demanding a ransom of 1 billion naira ($620,432) for their release. The incident, which occurred on March 7 in the town of Kuriga, Kaduna State, marks the first mass kidnapping in the country since 2021.
Jubril Aminu, a spokesperson for the families of the hostages, disclosed that the kidnappers contacted him on Tuesday, making the ransom demand. ‘They made a total of a 1 billion (naira) ransom demand for all the pupils, students, and staff of the school,’ Aminu said, adding that the kidnappers threatened to harm the hostages if the ransom is not paid within 20 days.
Idris Ibrahim, an elected official from the Kuriga Ward municipal council, corroborated the ransom demand and confirmed the amount. ‘Yes, the kidnappers called the community through Jubril Aminu’s number and made the demand,’ Ibrahim affirmed, adding that efforts are underway to trace the call despite it being from a hidden number.
Security forces are reportedly taking measures to secure the release of the abducted students. However, Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State, has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the kidnappers’ demands.
The ransom demand translates to over $2,000 per hostage, exceeding the annual per capita income in Nigeria, according to International Monetary Fund data. This substantial demand underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for swift action to ensure the safe return of the abducted students and staff.