Terrorists Release Kidnapped Zamfara Students Abducted Over Three Months Ago

The female students of Zamfara College of Art and Science, who were abducted months ago by terrorists have regained their freedom.

The students were kidnapped earlier in the year and the terrorists demanded a ransom of N50 million to free them.

But according to a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, the bandits released the kidnapped student earlier in the week.

Makama added that victims are currently in an undisclosed hospital in Gusau, the state capital, for medical check up and treatment.

As of the time of filing this report, it is unknown if ransom was paid by the parents or government for their release. Also, the Zamfara government has yet to issue a statement on their reported release.

Recall that the bandits had released a video showing female students pleading with government authorities to rescue them.

The kidnapped victims, especially, pleaded with the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal to rescue them and save them from being married off by their abductors.

In the video tweeted by Zagazola, one of the students, while pleading and crying at gunpoint, said they had been in captivity since the administration of former Governor Bello Matawalle, who failed to rescue them till he left office on May 29, 2023.

She said: “For God’s sake, our mothers, we are in big trouble. We have been here since the administration of the former government,” she said tearfully.

“We have spent 174 days inside the forest; that is almost six months.

“For the sake of God, our mothers, we have no one apart from you. Come and rescue us. The former governor could not rescue us. We are begging the new government of Dauda Lawal to help us.

“I am an orphan, my father is dead, please help us for God’s sake. My mother has no resources, please help us. These guys have vowed to marry us off within a week.”

The other three girls also lamented their frustration and begged the government to come to their aid.