Katsina State Police Command has announced the release of all the 21 children kidnapped by Bandits while working on a farm at Kamfanin Mai Lafia village in Faskari Local Government Area of the State.
Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, SP Gambo Isah who announced the release of the children was silent on whether ransom was paid or not before the children regained freedom.Recall that the 21 children consisting of seventeen girls and four boys were abducted by terrorists operating in Faskari Forest area on 30th October, 2022 who later demanded payment of N30 million as ransom for their release.
The PPRO sent a message to journalists and it read:
“Good evening Gentlemen of the Press. It is with great joy that I announce the release of all the 21 abducted workers that were kidnapped while working in farmland at Kamfanin Mai Lafiya village, Faskari LGA of Katsina State”. SP Gambo confirmed
According to the message, all the children have been reunited with their families while investigation is ongoing.
The release of the children is coming hours after the United Nations Children’s Fund, Unicef raised serious concerns over their abduction.
The United Nations, UN, body in a statement by its representative in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, said, “Abduction of children whether at home, at school, on the farm, or anywhere else, is reprehensible. Children should never be the target of violence, especially by anyone who should be protecting them”.
The organisation therefore called on the authorities to take necessary action to rescue the abducted children and reunite them with their families unhurt, and without delay.
