John Shiklam in Kaduna
The remaining 27 released students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna, were formally handed over to their parents yesterday by the Kaduna State Police Command at the school premises.
It was a mixed feeling as some of the students and parents danced in jubilation while others broke down in tears as they embraced each in the school hall, venue of the event.
The students were released on Wednesday after being held captive by kidnappers for 56 days.
Upon their release, they were taken to the Police College Clinic, Kaduna, for medical attention.
They were looking strong and cheerful as they were reunited with their parents and colleagues.
On March 11, the kidnappers invaded their school and abducted 39 of them. Two of them students escaped while 10 others were set free in batches of five after the parents reportedly paid a ransom of N17 million.
The students were brought to the school premises in two buses, accompanied by a convoy of security personnel led by the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Muri.
Speaking in an interview one of the abducted students Sarah Sunday said she has forgiven the kidnappers despite the trauma they subjected her and her colleagues to.
“We forgive them and God will give them chance to change. We suffered a lot, honestly speaking.
We trekked a lot because everywhere we were moving is trekking,” she said.
She said while in captivity, she was worried that her mother was going to die because of shock, saying she was happy to be reunited with her family.
“I thought my mum will pass away because of the shock, but I thank a God. Thank you very much to everyone that help us in prayers and everything”, she said.
Also speaking, Sarah’s mother, Mrs. Sunday expressed gratitude to God for bringing back her daughter safely.
She however said she would not allow her daughter to continue in the school unless, security is provided.
“I am very happy God has brought her back. I will allow her to continue her studies in the school if there is security. If there is no security, I will change school for her”, she said.
Many of the students had little time to talk about their experience in the kidnappers den as they were in a hurry to go home, but expressed gratitude to God and all those involved in rescuing them.
One of the parents, Mrs. Tani Tanko, said parents are happy that God had answered their prayers.
“We are very happy. We have been praying for the safe returns four children ever since they were abducted and God has answered our prayers”, she said.
Also, another parent, Mr. Paul Mshelia said he was excited that his son and other children were back alive.
“I feel very excited seeing my son and other children back alive. My happiness knows no bounds. We have suffered a lot of emotional and psychological trauma. Today we feel greatly relieved. We want the school to beef up security”, he said.
Address the parents, the Kaduna state police commissioner, Mr. Umar Muri said “since the abduction of the students, the federal and state government, Inspector General of Police as well as the Kaduna State police command became greatly concerned and deeply engaged every means deemed necessary within the ambit of the law to rescues the victim.”
He said, “in the process of the strategy, many security meetings were held at the Kaduna State Government House, presided by His Excellency, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, the executive governor where more proactive measures were thoroughly discussed and carefully analysed with a view to ensuring that all the students are rescued unhurt.”
According to the commissioner of police, “As a result of these measures by the federal and state government as well as the Acting Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, the Kaduna state police command, the military and other sister security agencies adopted the best modus operandi at our disposal.”
Muri said, “Ten of the students were released in two batches. With this sustained effort mention above, the remaining kidnapped students were subsequently released to the command on May 5, 2021, at about 16:15 hours without any casualty”.
However, parents shouted at the commissioner as he was marking his speech, insisting that neither the police nor the Kaduna state government played any role in the release of their children.
