The radical Fulani Muslim extremists holding about 270 schoolchildren and teachers captive have given the condition for their freedom: N1 billion (US$628,338) or the hostages will be killed.
The demand was made known to Jubril Aminu, a community leader who acts as a spokesman for the families of the hostages, on Tuesday, Reuters said in an exclusive report. Aminu said he got a phone call from the terrorists.
The mass kidnapping was on Thursday, March 7 from a public school in Kuriga village in Chikun county, Kaduna State.
“They gave an ultimatum to pay the ransom within 20 days, effective from the date of the kidnap. They said they will kill all the students and the staff if the ransom demand is not met,” Aminu said to Reuters.
The ransom demand was corroborated by the councillor of Kuriga, Idris Ibrahim. According to Ibrahim, the phone call was from a hidden phone number, “but the authorities are working on getting the number.”
Premium Times reported that the terrorists gave out their location to Aminu. “He (the caller) said they were at the northern fringe of Dansadau (a community in Maru County of Zamfara State). If we bring the amount, all the children will be released,” Aminu said.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
