A reported ransom of N10 million was paid to secure the release of two out of the three students of Al-Qalam University, Katsina State, who were abducted by bandits in January 2024.

The students were kidnapped in the Dutsinma area of the state.

According to SaharaReporters, it was learnt on Thursday morning that two of them had regained their freedom after spending one month in captivity.

Habiba Shatali, a 200-Level of Political Science, Mariam Musa, a 400-Level of Microbiology and Yusuf Abdulazeez, a 400-Level Mathematics student were abducted around Kurfi, Dutsinma on January 14, 2024, while heading back to school from Minna in Niger State.

SaharaReporters gathered that Habiba and Mariam were released at about 8:00 pm on Wednesday and have been reunited with their families while Yusuf was still being held by the kidnappers.

A source close to the family who spoke to SaharaReporters said the sum of N10 million was paid to secure the release of Habiba and Mariam after the kidnappers had reduced the ransom placed on each student to N5 million each from the initial N100 million.

It was gathered that the parents of Yusuf had not been able to raise the ransom.

Meanwhile, the state government and Commissioner of Police have maintained a deafening silence since the incident occurred.

One of the fathers of the victims, Abubakar Yaro, who spoke to SaharaReporters, said, “I’m pleased to inform you that my daughter whom had been in captivity over a month had regained her freedom alongside others, yesterday night 14, February, 2024  at about 8pm. Both are in good health as at present.

“I wish to use this medium to thank all that contributed towards this battle.”

Efforts to reach the police spokesperson for comments were not successful.

SaharaReporters on January 29, 2024, reported how the state government had refused to engage the parents of the affected students on possible ways of rescuing the victims.

The government refused to make a formal statement to rekindle the hope of the affected families who had been traumatised as a result of the incident.

The students had travelled home for the Yuletide break but met at the motor in Minna where they all agreed to return to school together before they were waylaid by gunmen suspected to be bandits in the area.