Abductors of 136 pupils of Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School Tegina in Niger State have indicated that four of the pupils are dead.
It was gathered at the weekend that the courier of the ransom, one Kassimu Daragana, who arrived Tegina at the weekend, reported that the bandits took him to four graves they purportedly buried the dead pupils.
It was learnt that the parents have further strengthened their scout for money, as a 3-man team reportedly left Niger State at the weekend to appeal for funds.
A government source however hinted that the state government, though averse to payment of ransom, has been following through intelligence reports on the movement of the children.
The bandits have so far collected N55million and demanded for six motorcycles before releasing the abducted pupils; but at the weekend, they made a fresh demand of N20million ransom.
When contacted the Head Teacher of the Islamiyya School confirmed that when Kassimu came back he told them that four graves were shown to him where four pupils who died were buried.
He, however, added that “the situation is a hopeless one, because we don’t have that money now”.
Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Police Command has rescued two abducted students of the Federal Government College (FGC), Birnin Yauri in Kebbi State.
The State’s Commissioner of Police, Hussaini Rabi’u, disclosed this at a news conference in Gusau, yesterday.
