Banditry: Four Kaduna Female Students spend 10 weeks in captivity

Four female students of the Asma’u College of Health Technology Kaduna State kidnapped by bandits along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highway 10 weeks ago are still in captivity, Daily Trust reports.

Two of the victims, who are sisters, have been in captivity since December 21, 2022, when bandits attacked their vehicles on their way to Birnin Gwari for Christmas holiday.

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Daily Trust gathered that the girls were held back by the bandits because they are students.

The biological father of the sisters, Lawal Ado, told Daily Trust that the bandits demanded N10 million per student, an amount he said the families couldn’t raise.

“My daughters and two other students were on their way to Birnin Gwari for the Christmas holiday in December 2021 when the bandits attacked the vehicle they were travelling in along Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highway.

“They took them into the bush alongside other travelers, but the bandits demanded N40‎ million for the four students.‎ The bandits’ leader told us that the money demanded is high because the four girls were students,” he said.

Malam Ado, who has traumatized since the incident happened, said he paid N700,000 and N10,000 recharge cards for his two girls as requested by the bandits, while the father to one of the girls also paid N300,000, but the bandits have refused to release the girls.

He said that he spoke with one of his daughters in captivity and she told him that all the girls are alive; but he said as a father he is very worried.

Ado said the bandits’ leader kept threatening the family that the children will not be released until the payment is made or else he will keep them.

Our reporter observed that the pictures of the victims went viral on social media, with people appealing to government to do something to rescue the teenagers.

The Kaduna State Government has always reiterated its position that it will not negotiate with the bandits.

The State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, stressed the state government’s   position on ransom recently at an event in Abuja.

In December, 2021 Daily Trust reported that bandits attacked a convoy of vehicles despite being being escorted by security personnel where an undisclosed number of travelers was abducted, among whom were the four students of the private health college.