Twenty seven of the remaining 29 students kidnapped by armed bandits at the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna State, have regained their freedom.

According to Daily Trust, the release of the students was facilitated by the Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Dialogue Committee with support from former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Overnight on March 12, the armed group had whisked away the 39 college students to a forest. Hours after their abduction, a video surfaced online showing how the students were being caned and cowed in the bandits’ den.

Their abductors had demanded N500 million ransom but the Kaduna State Government vowed not to negotiate with them.

After payment of ransom by parents and school management, the bandits only released 10 of the victims, leaving the other 29 in captivity.

Although it is unclear whether the remaining two students are dead or alive, a source revealed to a Daily Trust reporter that only 27 students were released by the abductors.

On Tuesday, nearly two months after the students were taken to the bandits’ den, their parents staged a protest at the National Assembly begging the government to secure the release of their children.

When contacted, Friday Sani, one of the parents of the remaining victims, told FIJ he was not aware of release. He said he would confirm and get back to our reporter.

Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner-Internal Security and Home Affairs, did not answer FIJ’s call when contacted for confirmation.