In the footage, which has been widely shared on Facebook, some of the students clearly appeared distressed. In one video, the abducted student calls on the government to co-operate with his captors, while a figure in the background shows a gun to his head and back.
According to Kaduna police, 39 abducted students were abducted on Thursday night after an attack on the Federal College Forest for Forestry Mechanization in Mandona, Kaduna.
The students, who were forcibly stripped of their hostels – some of them in their night clothes – can be seen in the video as diplomats in their engagement to the government with gunmen.
The student who called for cooperation, whose last name is given as Emanuel, also says that the rigorous rescue operation will be met with serious consequences for the criminal gang. He added that “a lot of people here have been injured – badly injured … time is running out … most of the people here have health problems.”
It was not immediately clear whether the heavily armed hijackers, dressed in military fatigue, made any request for ransom.
Muhammad Jalige, a police spokesman in Kaduna, told CNN on Sunday that the force was not aware of the financial demands made by the attackers.
“We are not aware of it. Even if they make a request, it will be done by the school management,” Jalig said, confirming the veracity of the video.
“The video is very honest. The bandits used to record a video of one of the abductees.”
Jalig said paying a ransom is not an option.
“No one is willing to take that into account. Fighting bandits and getting students out is what we’re trying to do,” he said.
The Federal College of Forestry and Mechanization is a higher education institution located in Afka, a forest community near the Nigeria Defense Academy military barracks. The college students, ranging in age from 19 to 25, specialize in agricultural studies.
In a statement on Friday, Samuel Aruwan, commissioner of the Kaduna state ministry of internal security and home affairs, said 180 students had been rescued by soldiers engaged in “armed bandits”.
The troops successfully rescued 180 civilians, the statement said; 42 female students, eight staff and 1 male0 male students … a mix of about 0 male students, male and female, which is yet to be accounted for.
Jalij told CNN on Sunday morning that 39 students were still being held by the bandits and the rescue team was working to ensure the students were released without any casualties.
“We are taking joint action with other sister security agencies to rescue the abductees,” a police spokesman said.
Student leader Daniel Attep, who heads the Daniel Ledge Agricultural Students’ Association, told CNN that he identified almost everyone in the viral video and identified a kidnapper.
“I know virtually everyone in that video,” Atepe said. Also confirming the claim of the police that the kidnappers used one of the victims to apply for help.
Atepe added that before the attack, in the hostel where most of the students lived, no security measures were taken by the school management to ensure the safety of the students.
Another student, Zainab Umar, told CNN that her roommate was also seen in the video.
An ally of President Muhammadu Buhari issued a statement on Saturday, “applauding the army’s early response that 180 students, including eight staff members, were rescued” and demanding the safe release of other students.
Buhari said his government would not allow the destruction of the school system by “targeting schools”.
Kidnappings continue in northern Nigeria
Also in northwestern Nigeria earlier this month, more than 300 schoolchildren were abducted from a school in Zamfara State.
At least people were abducted and later released from a state-run school in Kagara, Niger, last month, and more than 30,000 schoolboys were picked up and later released in December.
Kidnappings for ransom have spread in some parts of Nigeria and have become a major security challenge. State governors pay regular ransoms for the safety of victims but rarely admit to doing so.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari recently asked state governors to “review their policy of rewarding bandits with money and vehicles,” saying the policy could “counteract potential catastrophic consequences.” Buhari also urged the governors to work hard to keep their schools safe.
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