The parent of the abducted the 156 pupils of the Salihu Tanko Islamiyya School in Tegina town of Rafi local government of Niger state last Sunday have lamented that the bandits are killing the kidnapped kids.

One of the parents of the kidnapped kids a father who has five kids among the kidnapped, Malam Ali Mohammed speaking recently said that the kidnappers had increased the ransom from N110M to N200m.

He said that the bandits also threatened to kill the kids if the money was not paid soonest.

Mohammed weeping said that “the bandits are serious about killing our children if we cannot pay

” We are poor people, we don’t have such money, we plead with the government to come to our assistance,”

Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger has decried the recent attacks by bandits in three local government areas of Rafi, Wushishi and Lavun.

“The situation has reached crisis level. In fact, it’s a war situation that we have to confront without further delay,” the governor said.

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Reports also have it that the governor has begun negotiation with bandits so as to see to the release of the kids but insisted that it will not pay any ransom for the safe release of the pupils.

Deputy Gov. Mohammed Ketso stated this in Minna on Wednesday while updating newsmen on the whereabouts of the abducted pupils.

He said that “Niger State Government is negotiating the release of the abductees and we are confident that in no distant time, the pupils will be united with their parents.

“Government is in touch with some of the parents of the kidnapped children, they have been assured of the safe return of their wards,” he said.