The parents of the abducted schoolchildren at Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, have turned to prayers in hopes of the safe return of their children.

Their resolve followed their inability to meet up with the sum of N1 billion demanded as ransom by the bandits responsible for the children’s abduction.

The parents said with the demand of N1 billion ransom made by the bandits and the threat to kill the children if they fail to pay the ransom within 20 days, the community has come to the conclusion that only God and government can rescue their children.

To this end, they said, they have decided to seize the opportunity provided by the Ramadan period to pray, fast and constantly recite the Qur’an as a way of seeking God’s face and securing His intervention for the safe return of the innocent children.

They also called on the state and federal governments not to renege on their promise to rescue the 287 children.

One of the parents, Nasiru Zakari Kuriga, who expressed confidence that the government would keep its promise to ensure safe return of their children, urged the government to focus on its promise.

Kuriga also called on government to shelve pronouncements that are capable of worsening the traumatic conditions of the affected parents.

He said: “The government has promised us to do whatever is possible to rescue our children.

“We believe in the government and we are confident that it is making efforts.

“However, the government should stop pronouncements that are capable of sending us, especially our women, to the hospital.

“Some women have four children in the bandits’ captivity.”

Kuriga also confirmed earlier reports that the bandits who abducted the schoolchildren had called to demand a billion naira as ransom.

“Truly, these people have called. But the government has promised us, particularly when Governor Uba Sani came here, that, it will bring back our children safely.

“We as a community believe in the promise made by the government and we don’t want to interfere in what the government is doing.

“We the parents of these children, especially women, have not been in stable conditions since this unfortunate incident happened.

“What we want is for the government to quickly follow all the necessary steps to secure the freedom of these children.

“We are not talking about four or five children here. We are talking of about 300 children.

“So, the government should concentrate on the rescue effort,” he said.

Reacting to the news of Federal Government’s resolve against payment of ransom, Kuriga said: “The government should please not come out clear to us on what it will do and what it will not do, because coming out to tell us that government will not pay ransom is like spoiling 10 things while attempting to repair five things.

“If government tells categorically that it will not pay ransom, it will cause more damage than the one on ground. This is because there is no one capable of securing the release of these children, other than the government.

“If government makes such pronouncements, parents that would be hospitalised will be more than the number of children in captivity.

“This is because some women have up to five children in the bandits’ captivity. So, it will be disastrous for government to tell such women that government is not ready to pay ransom.

“So, government should follow it step by step. We know government is trying and we believe in the efforts of the government to rescue the children.

“We are supporting the government in its efforts. Every day now, we recite complete Qur’an. We are praying that God will make the children come safe and sound,” he said.

Another parent, Abdullahi Umar, said even the bandits know that even the entire community cannot raise N1 billion, because they are poor farmers whose economic activities have been destroyed by the same bandits.