The terrorists responsible for the kidnap of five students of the Federal University, Gusau in Zamfara State alongside the families of the kidnapped students have bargained the ransom payment to N1m for each student, Sunday PUNCH learnt on Thursday.
Our correspondent had exclusively reported how the terrorists demanded N5m each for each of the students. A family member of one of the victims who spoke to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity noted that the decision of the terrorists to bring down the ransom price to N1m for each student followed intense negotiations.
Sunday PUNCH reports that students of the institution had protested the failure of the university management and security agencies to secure the release of their colleagues.
The students were said to have been abducted from their hostels on Friday, June 16, 2023 few months after some students were reported to have been earlier kidnapped but were freed after their ransom was paid. The new development angered students who took to the streets on Saturday, June 17.
The vice-chancellor of the university, Prof Muazu Abubakar, promised the students that the school authorities would ensure the abducted students were released but his assurance was disregarded by the students.
However, our student learnt that the terrorists contacted the families of the victims and demanded payment of N5m each.
Speaking with our correspondent on Thursday afternoon, a family member of one of the students said, “They (terrorists) have agreed that we pay N1m each. Raising the N1m is not an easy task. Where do we get the money? We need the government to come to our aid.
Our correspondent contacted the Public Relations Officer of the Police Force in Zamfara State, DSP Muhammad Shehu, who noted that he would send a phone number for our correspondent to contact on the matter. He was yet to do so as at the time of filing this report.”
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