Bandits Released Us On Their Own Will, Freed Kaduna Student Contradicts Army

A student of Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna State, who was released by bandits on Monday has revealed how they regained their freedom.

Recall that the Nigerian Army had earlier stated that its troops rescued five of the students from their abductors after three weeks in captivity.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs in the state, Samuel Aruwan, was the first to announce the release of the students but did not release much detail.

He said, “The Nigerian military has informed the Kaduna State Government that five of the many kidnapped students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna were recovered this afternoon and are presently in a military facility where they are undergoing a thorough medical check-up.”

The spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Yerima Mohammed, in a statement released on Wednesday, revealed the identities of the students and praised troops for rescuing them.

“The rescued students are currently receiving medical attention in a military facility in Kaduna. The GOC 1 Division, Maj Gen DH Ali-Keffi has commended the troops for their effort and charged them not to rest on their oars until all kidnap victims are rescued and returned to their families,” he had said while giving the impression that the military rescued the students.

A 200 Level Student of Agriculture Technology at the institution, after they were released to their families. however, said the bandits released them voluntarily.

“One afternoon, they (the bandits) came and started selecting us… I was very ill that day. So, they asked me to sit aside and they added some girls and put us on motorbikes. They dropped us at a village close to the main road and said we should walk towards the road and we did,” he said.

In a related development, a 200 level student of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna State, Francis Paul, on Wednesday disclosed how bandits feed them while in captivity.

Recall that bandits stormed the school in March and kidnapped 39 students, however, five of the students were released on Monday.