[arista]

[Nigerian pupils taken by gunmen in
a mass abduction in the north-western town
of Kuriga earlier this month have been
freed "unharmed", officials say.

Kaduna state governor Uba Sani said
they had been rescued thanks to the
courage of the security forces.
The school authorities had said more than
280 children were taken,
but the army said 137 hostages
had been freed.
It said the operation took place in the
early hours of Sunday morning,
days before a ransom deadline.
Officials have not yet commented
on the discrepancy in numbers.

In previous cases, hostages have been
able to flee from their captors as they trek
for days to forest hideouts.

A top government official, who asked
not to be named, has told BBC Hausa that
one of the teachers taken from Kuriga died
in captivity.
The group was held for 17 days in total.]


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-68649221

Is the Nigerian government paying a ransom?
They will not say..........