Governor Abubakar Sani+Bello of Niger state has confirmed the abduction of 27 students,three staff and 12 family members by gunmen at the Governmentt Science College Kagara in Rafi local government area of the state.
He made the confirmation at a news conference shortly after an emergency meeting with heads of security agencies in Minna on Wednesday.
Sani- Bello said the state government would not pay ransom to the suspected bandits to secure the release of their victims,but said it was ready to support any bandit who was ready to surrender their arms.
To him,”when you negotiate and pay ransom to criminals, they will use the money to purchase more weapons”
The governor called on the Federal Government to deploy all resources to secure the state while the state government was doing what it can to ensure the return of the students and staff.
The gunmen stormed the 650 populated school on Wednesday at 2.a.m killing a student, Benjamin Domain while injuring others and abducted 27 students..
Three days ago, 40 passengers to Minna where abducted by suspected gunmen.
8 out of the 40 passengers abducted, were said to have regained freedom while the rest are still with their abductors.
