Facts are emerging about the circumstances surrounding the release of the 14 abducted students of Greenfield University, Kaduna.
It will be recalled that the young students spent 40 days in the kidnappers’ den after they were abducted from their school on April 20.
President Muhhamadu Buhari has expressed joy over the release of the students.
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, also expressed delight at the students’ release, praying that the bitterness of the last few weeks, would set the backdrop for positive achievements in their lives
Facts have, however emerged that the parents of the students paid a whopping sum of N180 million as ransom to the abductors to secure the release of their children.
Expectedly, the parents have expressed their disappointment with both the federal and Kaduna State governments for their failure to assist in securing the release of the students. They accused the governments of handling the abductions with levity.
The visibly angry parents spoke about the physical and mental torture they went through to get their children released without any help from government.
One after the other, the parents narrated how they sold their property to raise the N180million ransom paid to the abductors.
A mild drama, however played out soon after the release of the students. While the police attempted to take possession of the students, the parents resisted, vowing not to release their children to any government official.
The parents forced open the gate of the farms to have access to their children and took them away, branding the government insensitive, uncaring and leaving them to their fate all this while.
They recalled repeated pleas to the state government and the security agencies to help secure the release of the abductees and how they resorted to selling their assets to raise money for the ransom.
One of the parents, who would not want to be named, said: “we paid N180 million; that is what they collected from us without the help of any government.
“We, the parents, paid. The government did not send a single policeman to go after our children’s kidnappers.”
Another parent said the release of his daughter meant the world to him and his family. For him, the release was pure joy.
“After 40 days of trauma, trouble, confusion, disappointment that the future of Nigeria, children of Nigeria were kidnapped, we are very happy that we see them again alive.
“But it is disappointing that the government of Nigeria, both state and federal, could not lift a finger to secure their release. No government showed any intention to help. It was the parents that rallied round to ensure that the students were released.
“We paid a huge amount of money to secure their release; the people collected a number of motorbikes which we had to give because our destiny was tied up.
“There was no effort, no fight by government or security agencies to get them freed. We suffered, sold our properties to rescue our children. No government, no security agencies came to help us. It is shameful that those who did not contribute anything came out to take the glory.”
