Niger governor vows not to pay any ransom to kidnappers of Kagara students and staff members

The governor of Niger state, Abubakar Sani-Bello, has insisted that his government will not pay any ransom to kidnappers to release the abducted students and staff members of Government Science College in Kagara.

Governor Bello said this on Wednesday, February 17, while giving a press briefing to journalists on the situation report of the latest ugly development.

Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello. (Photo: @abusbello)

Similarly, a number of travellers had been abducted by suspected bandits in Niger state.

A video of the travellers begging the government to secure their freedom was released by a group of criminals on Tuesday, February 16.The travellers were kidnapped on Sunday, February 14, on a highway, with their abductors reportedly demanding a whopping sum of N500 million for their release.

Meanwhile, a former Kaduna senator, Shehu Sani, expressed pain over the abduction of another set of students in the north.

Sani said the experience of the Kankara kidnap had not taught both state governments and the police any lesson.

He said at the moment, parents are pulling out their children from the school after bandits abducted their classmates.

The former lawmaker tweeted:

"Parents are just pulling out their children from the Govt Science College Kagara, the scene of the early morning invasion by bandits. One student is confirmed killed.

"The whereabouts and numbers of those abducted remains http://unknown.No lessons learnt from Kankara.
"

Emerging reports indicate that the federal government is already making frantic efforts to rescue the students of the Government Science College, Kagara, who were abducted by bandits.

A presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, disclosed that a federal government security delegation has already arrived in Minna, Niger state to coordinate the rescue operation.

The Niger state government has called a security meeting over the abductions. Photo: @GovNiger

Ahmad on Wednesday, February 17, disclosed via Twitter that some officials on the government’s security delegation include: the National Security Adviser (NSA), the inspector general of police, lnterior, information and police affairs ministers among others.

Obinwanne ‘Invictus Obi’ Okeke sentenced to 10-year jail term for global fraud scheme

Obinwanne 'Invictus Obi' Okeke, a Nigerian national accused of masterminding a global fraud scheme was on Tuesday, February 16 sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Okeke was punished for his involvement in a computer-based intrusion fraud scheme that caused approximately $11 million in known losses to his victims.

Obinwanne ‘Invictus Obi’ Okeke. Photo credit: @invictusobi

Part of a statement posted on the website of the United States Department of Justice on the case read:

“Today’s sentence further demonstrates EDVA’s and FBI’s worldwide reach in vigorously pursuing justice on behalf of American victims and others and holding international cybercriminals accountable, no matter where they commit their crimes.”“Through subterfuge and impersonation, Obinwanne Okeke engaged in a multi-year global business email and computer hacking scheme that caused a staggering $11 million in losses to his victims.

Meanwhile, as Okeke and his likes continue to drag Nigeria's name in the mud, some Nigerians across the world continue to break new grounds and contribute their quota to create better societies.

Recently, Dr. Rita Orji was acknowledged as the first Nigerian woman to be recognised as the Canada Research Chair in Persuasive Technology.

Dr Orji, a member of faculty in the department of computer science, Dalhousie University, is an internationally recognized expert in persuasive technology and behaviour change systems.

Akumah, a stakeholder in Nigeria's ever-growing financial technology market, joins a long list of accomplished Nigerians whose expertise is being sought by global business schools.Similarly, a Nigerian entrepreneur, Onyeka Akumah has been appointed as a faculty member of the highly-respected Rome Business School in Italy.

Niger school abduction: Buhari sends urgent message to service chiefs, as Senate asks President to declare state of emergency on insecurity nationwide

 

President Muhammadu has condemned the abduction of some students from the Government Science College, Kagara, in the Rafi local government area of Niger state.

The president in a statement through a presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, disclosed that he has directed the armed forces and police to ensure the immediate and safe return of all the captives.

President Buhari . Photo: Femi Adesina

The statement partly read:

"The President has also dispatched to Minna, Niger State a team of security chiefs to coordinate the rescue operation and meet with state officials, community leaders, as well as parents and staff of the College.''

He urged members of the armed forces to do everything necessary to secure the release of the students and prevent a repeat of the attacks on schools in the future.

The presidency said:

"President Buhari has assured of the support of his administration to the Armed Forces in their brave struggle against terrorism and banditry and urged them to do all that can be done to bring an end to this saga, and avoid such cowardly attacks on schools in the future."

Buhari said the families of the victims of the attack remain in the prayers of Nigerians.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of the state has ordered the immediate closure of all boarding schools in Rafi, Mariga, Munya, and Shiroro local government areas of the state..

According to governor Bello, who told journalists today Wednesday, February 17, that the order was a security measure to save the life of the students.

 Niger state governor.Photo: @abusbello/Twitter, Kola Sulaimon /Getty Images

He said the recent bandit attacks in the state which have now become more brazen and daring is troubling.

The governor however asked President Muhammadu Buhari to deploy all necessary mechanisms to help in containing the situation as it is now out of hand.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Senate has asked President Buhari to declare a state of emergency across the country with immediate effect.

The demand was part of the Senate’s resolution on Wednesday, February 17 as a holistic response to the mounting security challenges across the country.

In another report, some Nigerians are voicing out on Twitter over the deteriorating security situation in Niger state.The resolution was made moments after Senator Sani Musa cited Order 42 and 52 to seek the leave of the Senate to present a motion on the abduction of students and teachers of Government Science School, Kagara, Niger state.

Recent attacks by bandits in the state have prompted social media activists to trend the hashtag, #SecureNigerState.

The cries over the insecurity in the state began on Tuesday, February 16, after a criminal group released a video showing the travellers they abducted on a highway.