Gunmen who abducted 286 students and staff from a school in northern Nigeria last week have demanded a total of N1 billion ($620,432) for their release as confirmed by spokesperson Jubril Aminu and local councillor Idris Ibrahim.
The abduction, which occurred on March 7 in Kuriga, Kaduna State, marks the first mass kidnapping in the country since 2021.
In an exclusive report, Reuters said Jubril Aminu, a community leader acting as a spokesman for the families of the hostages, said he received a call from the kidnappers on Tuesday, during which they made the ransom demand.
Aminu stated, “They made a total of a 1 billion (naira) ransom demand for all the pupils, students, and staff of the school.”
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The kidnappers issued an ultimatum of 20 days for the ransom payment, threatening to harm the hostages if their demand is not met.
Idris Ibrahim, an elected official from the Kuriga Ward municipal council, confirmed the ransom demand and the amount, stating,
“Yes, the kidnappers called the community through Jubril Aminu’s number and made the demand.”
He further added that the security forces are working to trace the origin of the call.
Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State, did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment about the kidnappers’ demands.
However, Ibrahim assured that the security forces are taking “adequate measures” to secure the release of the students and staff.
“The ransom demand amounts to more than $2,000 per hostage, surpassing the annual per capita income in Nigeria,” according to International Monetary Fund data.
