In the images, which have been widely shared on Facebook, some students appeared visibly distressed. In one video, a kidnapped student calls on the government to cooperate with their kidnappers, while a figure in the background points a gun at his head and back.
The students were among the 39 who were kidnapped Thursday night after gunmen attacked the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization in Mando, Kaduna, Kaduna police said.
The students, who were forcibly taken from their hostels – some in their nightwear – were featured in the video asking the government to be diplomatic in its involvement with the gunmen.
The student calling for cooperation, whose last name is Emmanuel, also says a vigorous rescue operation will have serious repercussions for the criminal gang. He added that “many of us here have been hurt – badly hurt … time is passing … most of us here have health problems.”
It was not immediately clear whether the heavily armed kidnappers, dressed in military fatigues, had asked for a ransom.
Muhammed Jalige, a police spokesman in Kaduna, told CNN on Sunday that the force was not aware of any monetary demands from the attackers.
“We are not aware of that. Even if they do make a request, it will be through the school management,” said Jalige, confirming the authenticity of the video.
“The video is very authentic. The bandits used one of the kidnapped victims to record the video,” he said.
Jalige said paying the ransom was not an option.
“No one is willing to think about that. We’re trying to fight the bandits and get the students out,” he said.
The Federal College of Forestry and Mechanization is a higher education institution located in Afaka, a forest community close to the military barracks of the Nigeria Defense Academy. The college’s students, who are between the ages of 19 and 25, specialize in agricultural studies.
In a statement, Samuel Aruwan, commissioner of Kaduna’s Department of Homeland Security and Internal Affairs, said 180 students had been rescued by soldiers who “enlisted the armed bandits”.
“The troops have successfully rescued 180 civilians; 42 female students, eight staff and 130 male students … about 30 students, a mix of men and women, have yet to be accounted for,” the statement read.
On Sunday morning, Jalige told CNN that 39 students are still being held by the bandits and that a rescue team was working to ensure the release of the students without victims.
“We have come up with a joint operation with other sister security agencies to rescue the kidnapping victims unharmed,” said the police spokesman.
Daniel Atep, a student leader who heads an association of agricultural students at the university, told CNN that he recognized almost everyone in the viral video and identified one of the inmates.
“I know pretty much everyone in that video,” said Atep, who also confirmed police allegation that the kidnappers used one of the victims to film the request for help.
Atep added that no security measure was taken by the school management to ensure the safety of students in the hostels, where most of the students live, prior to the attack.
Another student, Zainab Umar, told CNN that her roommate was also seen in the video
An assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari released a statement on Saturday applauding the military’s “early response that led to the rescue of 180 students, including eight staff,” and demanding the safe release of the other students.
Buhari said his government will not allow “the destruction of the school system” by “bandits in schools.”
Kidnappings are still widespread in northern Nigeria
Earlier this month, more than 300 schoolgirls were abducted from a school in Zamfara state, also in northwestern Nigeria.
At least 42 people were kidnapped last month from a state school in Kagara, Niger state and later released, and more than 300 schoolboys were taken and later released in December.
Ransom kidnappings are widespread in parts of Nigeria and pose a major security challenge. State governors regularly pay ransom to ensure the safety of victims, but rarely admit to doing so.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari recently told state governors to “review their policy of rewarding bandits with money and vehicles,” saying the policy “could backfire with potentially disastrous consequences.” Buhari also urged governors to work hard to secure their schools.