Niger Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello has dispelled rumour that 27 students and there teachers abducted on Wednesday morning at Government Science College, Kagara have been released.
He said the government was in last stage of negotiations with the bandits, promising the victims would be released soon.
Bello spoke on Friday at the Government House in Minna, the state capital, shortly after meeting renowned Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi.
Addressing journalists, he said, “Regarding the event of the past few days where we have two serious cases of kidnappings – the NTSA (Niger State Transport Authority) bus that was kidnapped (with passengers). And the second event took place at the Secondary School in Kagara.
“As at this moment, we do not have any additional information to give apart from the one given earlier on, yesterday. But I want to assure you that we are doing everything we can, we are interfacing with the local communities, with federal authorities and our own state authorities to ensure that we recover the victims safely.
“Our utmost priority right now is to make sure we bring them back home safe and that is exactly what we are going to do. So, there hasn’t been any information I can give you at this moment but once we have anything for you, we will let you know.”
Responding to a question on the purported release of the abductees, the governor said, “Everything that is being said out there is rumour and in situations like this, we cannot work with rumour, it has to be confirmed. Yes, we’ve been receiving different rumours from different people within villages but we are still treating those as rumour until processed and confirmed.”
On his meeting with Gumi, the governor said the state was ready to engage any actor who was willing to assist with the rescue of the abducted persons. Bello said, who noted that the state was exploring kinetic and non-kinetic means to secure the release of the abductees, added that he was waiting to receive a “comprehensive” report of the “findings” of Gumi.
Reporters At Large had earlier reported that Bello ordered the immediate closure of all boarding schools in the bandit-ravaged areas on Wednesday after the attack in Kagara.
The Senate had also asked the President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a state of emergency on security without further delay.
