Kidnapped Nigeria children freed in police operation

A group of 15 children kidnapped in south-eastern Nigeria earlier this week has been released, say police.

They were rescued by security forces from a forest hideout, Commissioner Jonathan Johnson told the BBC.

Armed men had seized the children from a school bus in the town of Aba in Abia state on Monday and were demanding a ransom of $130,000 (£81,500).

Mr Johnson told Reuters no arrests had been made and he was not aware that any ransom money had been paid.
The children were rescued from a hideout in the forest in Ogwe-Asa in a joint military operation, he said.

They are in police custody and will be returned to their parents later in the day.

The BBC's Fidelis Mbah in Abuja says some 5,000 extra soldiers have been deployed to the area to prevent the kidnappers from escaping.

There are roadblocks in Aba city centre and many shops and businesses which had shut down following the abduction, fearing further attacks, remain closed, he says.

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“
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The government will not allow a few disgruntled elements in criminal garb to hold the entire state hostage”
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Theodore Orji
 
Governor of Abia
 The governor of Abia state, Theodore Orji, had in recent weeks offered the gang leaders an amnesty in return for giving up weapons, but on Friday he said it was cancelled.

"These kidnappers are mere gold-diggers, whose resolution and trade ambition is to make easy money and to secure the betterment of themselves alone," he said.

"The government will not allow a few disgruntled elements in criminal garb to hold the entire state hostage.

"Government has been challenged, and we have decided to take the utmost measure available to implement the might and weight of government's forces."

President Goodluck Jonathan had described the kidnapping as "callous and cruel".

Abia state has seen a rise in hostage-taking recently and many middle-class Nigerians travel with armed escorts.

Kidnappings in the region are carried out by criminal gangs seeking a ransom, but also by armed groups demanding a fairer distribution of oil revenue in a country flowing with oil but where most people live on less than $1 a day.

Posted: at 1-10-2010 10:12 AM (14 years ago) | Upcoming

lol thank God for the children safe release

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Posted: at 1-10-2010 10:21 AM (14 years ago) | Hero

Thank God!

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Posted: at 1-10-2010 01:12 PM (14 years ago) | Addicted Hero

i hope the one milla offer is still on? cos i wont rest untill they are all arrested

Posted: at 1-10-2010 01:56 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie

oh i thank God for the lives of those kids

Posted: at 1-10-2010 05:19 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie

there should be no hidding place for those cowwards and bastards under the sun , they must fetch them , fished them out from their hidout right now , and non of them must not escape , the federal might is in control right now

Posted: at 1-10-2010 10:11 PM (14 years ago) | Grande Master

THANK GOD FOR THOSE CHILDREN LIFE. I PRAY THEY WILL BE ALL ARRESTED.

Posted: at 1-10-2010 10:42 PM (14 years ago) | Upcoming

Thanks be to GOD almighty HE is always ready to answer us when we call HIM without GOD we can do nothing.
may GOD bless everybody that has contributed in one way or the other to bring these children back.children happy independent!!!!!!!!!

Posted: at 1-10-2010 11:20 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie

Where are u going to see them, are you sure the ransom was not paid before they were released.

Posted: at 1-10-2010 11:27 PM (14 years ago) | Newbie

I really thank GOD for for the lives of those kids i hope they are in good condition and telling me that  the kidnappers escaped i don't believe that crap.they might had been paid a ransom or the police are the kidnappers, cuz in naija all evil things are possible.

Posted: at 2-10-2010 12:50 AM (14 years ago) | Upcoming