Positive signs that indicated the freedom of the 11-Girl-students abducted from the Federal Government College (FGC) Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, about two years ago is in sight.
The remaining 11 female students were part of the one hundred and three (103) students captured in a broad day light by the Dogo Gide led Bandits on June 17, 2021 and confined in a forest enclave described as very dangerous and bomb proof.
The violent abduction which resulted into the death of three (3) and the subsequent rescue of 89 students came to the core as the Bandits demanded a ransom of N100,000,000:00 from the parents or the Kebbi State Government.
While delivering his weekly Juma’at Khudba sessions, the chief Imam of Dr. Bello Haliru Juma’at Mosque, Sheikh Muhammad Tukur Kola said, in Birnin Kebbi that over N105M was received as donations on the 26 Rajab 1444AH from within and outside Kebbi State.
Among the earlier donors were the management of Dr. Bello Haliru Mosque that also formed the Appeal Fund Committee with N5M, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar (Rtd) N3M while Senators Muhammad Adamu Aliero and Dr. Yahaya Abdullahi Argungu donated N6M and N5M respectively.
Other donors included the First Kebbi State Civilian Governor Alh. Abubakar Musa (Garkuwan Yauri) N500,000:00 and the Katsina based Business Mogul Alh. Dahiru Barau Mangal with N5M to the appeal fund.
Shiekh Tukur Kola commended the concern as shown and demonstrated by Col. Abubakar Dan Giwa Umar in the course of the Appeal Fund Committee exercise across the nation.
The chief Imam said, the setting up of the Appeal Fund which he led was the final decision they effected after both Kebbi State and the Federal Government refused to relieve the parents of the burden of payment as pronounced by the Bandits group.
He further stated that series of Khudba that pleaded to the state authorities to do the needful and show compassion to the indigent students and their parents failed across Kebbi state.
The committee he stated, was therefore, asked to receive through donation the N100,000,000:00 demanded by the Dogo Gide led Bandits to free the 11 remaining students from their custody.
The scholar spoke at length in his Khudba about the appalling conditions these students were in, for close to two years which added much sorrow to their parents now surrounded by poverty, frustration and disillusionment of their lives.
The chief imam said while the donation goes on from good spirited individuals, the Fund’s Contact Committee had indicated that their negotiations with the bandits was being derailed.
According to the chairman of the committee, the introduction of the newly redesigned currency Notes are rejected by the Bandits and insisted to be paid with the new naira Notes operating in the country.
The report further said, the Dogo Gide led bandits group has refused to accept the old naira notes of N200:00, N500:00 and N1,000:00 in the ransom payment procedures.
The Parents of the aforementioned 11 female students had recently decided to auction all their valuables in a bid to meet the N100,000,000:00 ransom demanded by the bandits. A current Bank Account was said to have been opened with certain bank in Birnin Kebbi, seat of the Kebbi State Government, where Parents sought for compassionate donation from the members of the public in this regards.
HALIRU SARKI KENDE
Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State
08067234599
halirusarkikende@gmail.com
