Of the 39 kidnapped students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, five have been “recovered”, Kaduna State Government has said.
What exactly is meant by recovered was not explained by State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, but he said the students are undergoing thorough medical check-up at a military facility
“The Nigerian military has informed the Kaduna State Government that five of the many kidnapped students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna were recovered this afternoon and are presently in a military facility where they are undergoing a thorough medical check-up.
“The Kaduna State Government will provide updates on further operational feedback to be received on this case,” the terse security update said.
Recall that the students of the school were abducted by bandits who broke through the fence of the school to unleash horror on them 25 days ago.
On Sunday, the Kaduna State Government said it never appointed any group or individual to negotiate on its behalf with bandits over the abduction of the 39 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Mando in Igabi Local Government Area of the state.
The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, added that anyone caught negotiating with bandits, on government’s behalf, would be prosecuted.
Media reports said parents of the abducted students are said to be reaching out to influential Nigerians to release their children abducted – former Senator Shehu Sani had also tweeted he contacted prominent Sheikh Gumi to secure the release of the abducted students.
Said Aruwan in his Sunday statement: “The attention of the Kaduna State Government under the leadership of Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been drawn to reports in the media that it has appointed representatives to interface with bandits on its behalf.
“The Kaduna State Government hereby clarifies firmly that such intermediaries have never been appointed.
“The position of the Kaduna State Government remains the same: the Government will not negotiate with or pay ransoms to bandits.
“Any person who claims to do so in any capacity, if found, will be prosecuted accordingly.
“Citizens are urged to report the details of any persons posing as official government negotiators to the Kaduna State Security Operations Room on 09034000060 and 08170189999, or email internal.security@kdsg.gov.ng.”
