Parents of some of the abducted students of Greefield University, Kaduna yesterday expressed shock that the kidnappers resorted to killing their children even after opening negotiation with them on their ransom demand.
Three of the students were found dead yesterday, less than 72 hours after their abduction.
The Kaduna State Government and many other Nigerians were outraged by the killing.
The Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) says it is appalled by the government’s policy of no deal with bandits and wants the federal authorities to declare a state of emergency in Kaduna State as the governor, in its opinion, lacks what it takes to handle the security challenge there.
Found dead yesterday were Abubakar Yusuf Sanga (male), Dorathy Tirnon Yohanna (female) and another female whose name could not be immediately confirmed.
They appeared to have been shot.
News of the killing of the students sparked shock, revulsion and outrage across the country yesterday.
One of the victims, Abubakar Yusuf Sanga, the only male among the killed students, was buried a few hours after the bodies were found.
Dorathy celebrated her birthday only on April 15, five days before her abduction and eight days before her body was found.
One of the parents who spoke anonymously said: “We are still in shock. We did not expect the bandits would resort to killing our children because they had contacted us since Wednesday and demanded ransom.
“They called us (the parents) directly and individually, but they demanded for a collective ransom of N800 million.
“So, yesterday (Thursday) we (the parents) met on the school premises and we called them trying to negotiate the ransom, but they insisted on the N800 million.
“Yes, we pleaded with them (bandits) that the amount they were asking for was too much and beyond our power, but we never imagined or expected they were going to be so cruel and resort to killing our children.”
Second victim killed 8 days after birthday
A second victim was identified as Dorathy Tirnom Yohanna by Yamai@ydcoal on Twitter.
Yamai described Dorathy as his sister in law.
In a tweet to Presidential aide,Tolu Ogunlesi, he said: “Hi @toluogunlesi , my sister-in-law was among the 3 dead students found today from Greenfield University. We are all trying to unpack our feelings. People’s children have become sports for bandits & kidnappers. I know you get a lot of stick on here.
“Where do we go from here Tolu? Do we worry about tomorrow? Do we believe in a fair, just and righteous God? My mother-in-law hasn’t eaten or showered in 3 days since her daughter, whom she saw on Monday, got kidnapped & this death was the answer to her prayers.
“Her name is DORATHY TIRNOM YOHANNA …and she died by a plague created by an uncaring government.”
Dorathy uploaded her photograph on her Facebook wall on her last birthday on April 15, five days before her abduction and eight days before her murder.
El-Rufai: Bandits represent worst of human kind
Kaduna State Internal Security and Home Affairs Commissioner Samuel Aruwan broke the news of the students’ killing via a statement, saying “In an act of mindless evil and sheer wickedness, the armed bandits who kidnapped students of Greenfield University have shot dead three of the abducted students.
“The remains of three students were found today (Friday) in Kwanan Bature village, a location close to the university, and have been evacuated to a mortuary by the Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs, and Force Commander, Operation Thunder Strike, Lt.Col. MH Abdullahi.”
He quoted Governor El-Rufa’i as describing the bandits as representing the worst of human kind and must be fought at all cost for the violent wickedness they represent.
El-Rufai, according to the commissioner, condemned the killing as sheer wickedness, inhumane and outright desecration of human lives by vile entities.
Evil, the governor further said, would not triumph over God-given humanity.
He appealed to citizens to come together against the forces of darkness challenging national security and the very existence of the Nigerian state.
“The Governor, on behalf of the government and people of Kaduna State, sent deep condolences and empathy to the students’ families and the university community, as he prayed for the repose of their souls.”
El-Rufai, who also spoke on an NTA programme advocated the construction of schools near military camps to curb incessant attacks by bandits in the state, saying that bandits’ attacks on schools could be foiled if troops can get to the affected school within 30 minutes.
According to El-Rufai, the state is working on measures to prevent further attacks, including ensuring budgetary allocations to fence schools.
He also said Kaduna needs more troops deployed in affected areas as the security challenge is beyond what the police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps can handle.
“In our view in Kaduna, first (way to address the situation) is to ensure that schools are fenced, because unless we fence schools, we will give easy access to criminals. So, fencing schools is very important, and that’s a budgetary item; you need money to build fences,” he said.
“The second is to have enough (security operatives) on (the) ground. We must have more civil defence (officers), more private security guards, more vigilante people in the schools and watchtowers so that any threat of abduction can be seen in good time so that you can call for help.
“The third is to look at schools and to ensure that they are located no farther than 30 minutes from military installations, because what we are facing with the bandits is beyond the capacity of civil defence and police. We need the army, the air force and navy special forces.
