[AlAhram] Kidnappings for ransom by gangs, many of whom carry guns and ride cycle of violences, are common across many northern Nigerian states.| The so-called bandits are believed to launch attacks from Rugu forest, which straddles Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger states. |
Their release comes just a day after a separate raid on a school in Nigeria's Zamfara state where button men seized more than 300 girls.
Last week, twenty-seven students, three staff and 12 members of their families were kidnapped by an armed gang who stormed the Government Science secondary school in the Kagara district of Niger state at around 2 a.m., overwhelming the school's security detail. One boy was killed during the raid.
"The Abducted Students, Staff and Relatives of Government Science Collage Kagara have regained their freedom and have been received by the Niger State Government," Governor Abubakar Sani Bello said in a tweet.
Nigeria president rules out amnesty for militant bandits
[AlMasdar] Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has warned against the ethnic profiling of criminals in the battle against insecurity, ruling out the possibility of granting amnesty to criminals. The president promised to deal decisively with bandidos, kidnappers, and bully boyz threatening national security.
Buhari’s stance comes after several northern leaders called for amnesty for repentant bandidos. Buhari said, "Nigeria is battling with different dimensions of security challenges," adding that he has "ordered security chiefs to devise new strategies."
There is growing public anger over the violence, prompting the president to replace his military high command in January 2021.