Terrorists who kidnapped over 286 students and staff in Kaduna State have demanded a total of N1 billion ($620,432) for their release.

According to Reuters, a community leader, Jubril Aminu, who acts as a spokesman for the families of the hostages, said he received a call on his phone from the kidnappers on Tuesday.

“They made a total of a N1 billion ransom demand for all the pupils, students and staff of the school,” Aminu said.

“They gave an ultimatum to pay the ransom within 20 days, effective from the date of the kidnap. They said they will kill all the students and the staff if the ransom demand is not met.”

An elected official from the Kuriga Ward municipal council, Idris Ibrahim, also confirmed the ransom demand and the amount.

“Yes, the kidnappers called the community through Jubril Aminu’s number and made the demand,” he said.

“They called from a hidden number but the authorities are working on getting the number.”

He added that the security forces were taking “adequate measures” to secure the release of the students.

The Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna State, Samuel Aruwan, did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the kidnappers’ demands.

Spokespersons for President Bola Tinubu and the army also did not respond to requests for comment.

The Minister of information, Mohammed Idris, told reporters on Wednesday that Tinubu’s position on the kidnappings in Kuriga was that security forces should secure the hostages’ release without any ransom.

DAILY POST reported that the school children, some older students and members of the school staff, were abducted on March 7 in the town of Kuriga, Kaduna State.

The incident is the first mass kidnapping in the country since 2021.