Barely 48 hours after urging the Federal Government to release the 100 million Naira demanded by the abductors of the greenfield University Students, Kaduna based Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has revealed that the 16 students who are still in captivity will be released soon very soon.
In an interview with newsmen shortly after parents of the released Afaka students paid a ‘thank you’ visit to him yesterday, Sheikh Gumi asserted that the students’ freedom was an encouragement to work for the release of the embattled students of Greenfield University.
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The parents thanked the Islamic Cleric while appealing to him to help convey their appreciation to former President Olusegun Obasanjo who worked alongside the Cleric in bringing back their children from the bandit’s den
According to Gumi, ‘The talk with the Greenfield University students’ abductors is also going on. You know they threatened to kill all of them after a particular deadline, but after talking to them, they are now lowering their bar.
‘So, we are thankful they have stopped killing. And we are still negotiating with them. I hope this Afaka case will also encourage to know that there is hope in negotiation and release of the children.
When asked about the reported swap of bandit for the students, Sheikh Gumi said, ‘I cannot confirm that, but I can quote the Governor of Kaduna state when the children of Chibok were kidnapped by Boko Haram, he said it is the duty of the government to use whatever means possible to safe the lives of Chibok girls. This is a general rule that life is more precious. Now, I am happy that 27 lives have been saved.’
Africa Today News, New York recalls that five of the students have been killed by their abductors, while one regained freedom after his parents paid ransom, leaving 16 still in captivity after they were kidnapped from the university on April 20, 2021.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK