Bandits have reportedly issued a seven-day ultimatum for the students of Federal University Gusau (FUG), Zamfara State, they abducted. 

Parents of the abducted students who are now calling on the federal government to act fast and save their children, said the bandits threatened to kill some of the female students if their demands are not met.

In the audios reviewed by Daily Trust, the bandits’ leader whose name could not be established said; 

“We are selling our cattle to feed the girls, and we are tired….We are tired of feeding them. You should take this message to those concerned. We are giving them seven days to release our people.”

Responding, the informant said, “I urge you not to kill the girls because they are innocent.”

But the bandits’ leader said, “Then you should talk to the federal government to release our members. They have incarcerated our members for a long time.”

Speaking in Hausa, the bandits’ leader said in another audio clip: “We heard that they (security operatives) want to use force to liberate the university students from us. Okay, before they use force, tell them that we would slaughter at least three of the girls in the first instance and share the pictures for the world to see.

“What we are saying is that if they think they have superior power to free the girls, why didn’t they confront us when we went to abduct them in the first place? We heard all that they were saying because we listened to the radio. They must release our members so that we can release the captives that are with us.”

In another audio clip, the informant pleaded with the bandits to exercise more patience: “It has been a while since I saw the mediators, but I will try my best and meet with them and ensure an amicable resolution of the problem.”

The bandit’s leader said, “You are well aware that they (the government) have not been straightforward in their approach. They would say one thing today and another thing tomorrow.”

The informant then said, “I still want to assure you that based on our discussions, those in charge have promised that they…would be freed and bring them for exchange with the girls.”

It was learnt that one of the commanders the bandits want to be released is called Ibrahim, an elder brother to the killed bandit leader, Ali Kachalla, even as there are over 50 of their members in custody, according to them.

Commenting on the development, Dr Ibrahim Mai Unguwa, the father of one of the abducted girls, called on the government to reconsider its decision to use the kinetic approach in rescuing the students, saying, “The move could lead to their death in the hands of the bandits. The children may be faced with two dangerous situations: one, they may be killed by the bandits or killed during a fight between the government’s security personnel and the bandits.

“Based on this, I am personally appealing to the government to reconsider its decision and go for dialogue with the abductors so that our children can be set free.

“The government should honour the request extended to it by the bandits. This is not the first time the government has swapped criminals with citizens. We have all seen what happened in Iraq and recently in Palestine; where prisoners were swapped between government and rebels.

“Even here in Nigeria, we have witnessed how members of Boko Haram were swapped with some Nigerians they had abducted. So, the government should consider the plight of both the abducted girls and the parents.

“For me, it is not a failure if the government swaps these girls with relations of the bandits as demanded. We hope that the government will listen to our calls and consider the swap option rather than the kinetic approach the government is opting for.”

Alhaji Muhammad Malami, another parent, said, “The use of power will not work at this critical time because anything can happen to our children. We, therefore, call on the government to think twice on this matter.

“The government should not be a cause-agent for the death of our children. Rather, it should be a cause for the rescue of our children. We want them alive. It is now more than three months after the abduction of these girls.

“Those in the corridors of power should assume these girls are their children; how are they going to feel? They should fear Almighty Allah and do everything possible to rescue them alive. We don’t want them to die in the hands of bandits.

“We have been praying for their return and we will continue to pray until they return to us safely. No one would want his child to spend three months in the custody of bandits, especially during this harmattan season.

“Remember, these children are spending days in an open space without shelter and medical attention whatsoever. This is terrible. We pray that Allah will return all of them to us very soon. But, sincerely speaking, we are calling on the government to reconsider using the kinetic approach in rescuing our children.”