After spending 57 dreadful days in captivity, 27 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna State regained freedom yesterday.
They regained freedom after N15 million was paid as ransom to their abductors and one bandit identified simply as Laulu was freed as part of the bargain.
The Afaka 27 were among 39 students who were abducted by brigands on March 11.
Out of the 39 students, two escaped on the day they were abducted, 10 were earlier released in two batches on April 5 and 8 after about N17 million was paid while 29 were held captive until yesterday.
Their release came a day after their parents protested at the national assembly complex in Abuja.
According to Daily Trust, the students were released to intermediaries who served link between negotiators and the kidnapping group.
The negotiations were facilitated by the Sheikh Ahmad Gumi dialogue committee with support from former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
It was gathered that the negotiators had reached out to federal government to approve the release of Laulu, identified as a “repentant cattle rustler who was lured and arrested by vigilantes.”
The freed students were received in Kaduna by the commissioner for internal security and home affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, and the commissioner of police, Mr. Umar Muri.
The students who looked emaciated and unkempt were taken to an undisclosed hospital.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has welcomed release of the students and congratulated their friends, families, the government and the people of Kaduna State on the development.
In a statement entitled ‘President Buhari welcomes release of Forestry School students,’ presidential spokesman, Mr. Garba Shehu quoted Buhari as saying: “We are happy they have been released. We express our deep appreciation to all the actors who contributed one way or the other to this happy outcome, in particular, the defence and security agencies, the officials of the ministry of environment and the government of Kaduna State. We thank Nigerians for their prayers.”
According to Shehu, the president called for steadfastness and security awareness on the part of citizens and the law enforcement agencies.
He was further said to have deplored what he called the increasing politicisation of security in the country by opportunistic politicians.
“The president appeals for the release of the students of the Greenfield University and all other citizens held in captivity, expressing the strong determination of his administration to ensure that Nigerians lived in a country where everyone can move where they want, when they want without the fear of kidnapping and banditry,” he added.
