Abducted students and staff members of the Government Science College Kagara, Niger State who were kidnapped 5 days ago are yet to be released by their captives.
A highly placed security source allegedly said the abductees were released and on their way to Minna from around the Birnin Gwari area of Kaduna State.
However, it has been revealed that those who were freed were some of the passengers who had been kidnapped before the Kagara school abduction and not victims from the school.
Recall that last Wednesday at about 2 am, armed gunmen in military uniform stormed the Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State and kidnapped 27 pupils and 15 staff members killing a Senior Secondary School 3 pupil in the process.
There have been worries over the safety of the students and teachers abducted by the bandits.
In another related development, 40 passengers travelling from Kontagora to Minna who were abducted by suspected gunmen on February 14 have regained their freedom.
The governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, reacting to this incident, said strict measures are being taken by his administration to prevent this incident from happening again and also ensure the safe return of the students and teachers.
However, an influential Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, had said on Saturday that the kidnapped Kagara schoolchildren might be released today.
According to him, he has been in touch with the bandits in the forest and there were possibilities that the abductees might regain their freedom today, given ongoing talks between the government and the bandits.
