Abducted FGC student gives birth in captivity

A 16-year-old abducted female student of Federal Government College (FGC), Birnin Yauri in Kebbi state, has given birth in captivity.

According to a report by PRNigeria, the student is said to be one of those abducted by gunmen who attacked the school in June 2021.

The gunmen had invaded the school on motorcycles and engaged police officers in a crossfire, injuring some of the students, while one death was recorded.

Three days later, the army, in a surveillance operation, rescued three of the students. Another two abducted students were rescued in August 2021.

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In October 2021, the Kebbi state government said 27 students and three teachers abducted by the bandits had regained their freedom. In January 2022, the Kebbi government said 30 students and a teacher were also freed.

According to PRNigeria, on Sunday, sources said the female student whose name could not be confirmed at press time, gave birth to a baby boy in the abductors’ camp in the forest.

One of the sources reportedly said the parents of the 11 schoolgirls still in captivity have expressed concern that despite “payment of ransom and prisoner swap”, their children were yet to be released.

“When the government, especially Atiku Bagudu, governor of Kebbi, ruled out negotiation with the armed group which demanded ransom, families of the abducted students contributed and paid the ransom for the release of their daughters,” a source was quoted as saying.

“It is disheartening that the bandits collected huge ransoms and married off some of the victims and yet refused to release the remaining abductees.”