The 27 Nigerian students of Government Science College, in Kagara, Niger State that were kidnapped within the school premises by gunmen suspected to be armed bandits in the early hours of Wednesday, have been released.

Local media outlets report that the release took place late in the evening on Thursday, to a foremost Islamic scholar based in Kaduna State, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi and others after much persuasion by the Islamic cleric.

The local Tribune Online portal reported that the students had been held captive in the hideout of the bandits for about 48 hours as at the time of their release.

Reports say the students have been sent to an undisclosed public health facilities for medical checkup in Minna, the state capital in order to ascertain their health status and treatment shortly after they are set free.

It was further learnt that the students gained their freedom after Sheikh Ahmad Gumi had met and dialogued with the leader of the bandits identified as Dogo Gide in conjunction with some of his members after what seems to be a long hours before the two parties could reach a truce.