Four schoolgirls have been released by bandits who abducted them from the Federal Government College (FGC) Birnin Yauri in Kebbi State, Nigeria, about two years ago. The release followed six days of negotiations in the forest, according to the spokesperson for the parents of the abducted girls, Salim Kaoje. Seven girls still remain in captivity, with two of their parents still negotiating for their release in the forest.
The girls, Bilha Musa, Faiza Ahmed, Rahma Abdullahi, and Hafsa Murtala, were among the students and teachers taken by the bandits when they attacked FGC Birnin Yauri on June 17, 2021. While some of the abductees regained their freedom shortly after their abduction, 11 of the students remained in the bandits’ captivity.
The parents had to sell their properties and organize a fundraising campaign that saw many Nigerians assist them financially to pay an undisclosed amount of money to secure the release of the four girls.
However, the remaining seven girls’ release is still uncertain, and the parents are calling for help from the government and security agencies.
The abduction of school children has become common in northern Nigeria, with bandits often demanding large ransoms for their release. The Nigerian government has been criticized for its inability to stop the increasing insecurity in the country.