The bandits who abducted some students from a private university in Kaduna have threatened to kill the remaining 17 in their custody if their demands are not met.

The criminals are asking for a ransom of N100 million as well as 10 brand Honda motorcycles.

In an interview with the Hausa Service of Voice of America (VOA), monitored by Daily Trust, a leader of the bandit group who identified himself as Sani Idris Jalingo, said if these are not provided by the Kaduna state government or the families of the abductees, by Tuesday, May 4, they will all be killed.

No fewer than 22 students and a member of staff were abducted from Greenfield University along the Kaduna-Abuja highway on April 20 and within a week, five of them were killed.

According to Jalingo, those in their custody were 15 females and two male students among them a grandchild of the late 18th emir of Zazzau, Shehu Idris, whom he identified as Hamza.

He disclosed that the sum of N55 million had been paid by the families of the students but it was used in feeding them.

Jalingo said the bandits have heard the comments made by the governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai that he will not pay ransom to bandits.

Declaring that this was his final warning, the bandit said:

“If they fail to bring N100 million and 10 brand new Honda motorcycles known as Boko Haram by Tuesday, I can assure you they will use trucks to evacuate the bodies of the remaining students.”

Asked if he sees himself as a terrorist, Jalingo said:

“I’m not but a food seeker.”
He also warned that it would be a waste of time for security agencies to plant trackers on the motorcycles as his members do not go to cities and arresting them will not be a piece of cake.

El-Rufai will not negotiate with bandits

Following the abduction of a number of students from secondary schools and universities in Kaduna state, Governor Nasir El-Rufai ruled out the option of negotiating with bandits in order to secure their release.

According to him, his government’s policy of not negotiating with bandits is why the criminals are attacking his state.