Families of the nine students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria who were abducted six days ago along the Kaduna-Abuja highway, have recounted some of the challenges they encountered before their wards regained their freedom.

Daily Trust reported that the bandits had demanded a cumulative ransom of N270 million, asking each parent to provide N30 million for the students’ freedom. However, after days of negotiations with relatives, it was gathered that the kidnappers settled for unequal amounts from various families.

Families of the kidnapped students were reportedly asked to converge around a forest in Chikun Local Government Area where they will be given directions into the forest.

One of the relatives, who conveyed N500,000 to secure his sister’s release said:

“It was as if we were given the same time to bring the ransom. About 12 people were released on Saturday night among them the nine students; eight females and a male. Each family went with their ransom separately in a bag and we were all directed by the kidnappers.”

Another family source who delivered N800,000 for the release of his niece said each family was given a particular amount to deliver with the least being N500,000. He said;

“Some paid N700,000, some paid N800,000 and another paid N1 million. However, we paid N800, 000 to get my niece out of the forest.

“If you are travelling to Abuja from Kaduna, immediately after the NYSC camp, there is a solar light at a small village called Dutse. By the side, there is a tarred road that goes into Gwagwada but before we got to Gwagwada, there is a road that will lead you to Maro village. It was on our way to Maro that we were diverted into the forest. We are in serious trouble in this country because this thing happened just close to the NYSC camp.”

Recounting how security operatives allegedly wished them luck, he added;

“We met with security agents who were patrolling the area while on our way and they asked us where we were going to because it was late at night. We told them we were on our way to pay ransom for the release of our relatives and the security agents wished us good luck.

“We drove for about 30 minutes inside the bush and then we saw some people on motorcycles and we were asked to hop on. We rode on the motorcycles for another 30 minutes deep into the forest.”

Upon getting into the forest, the man whose niece was kidnapped said armed men surrounded them and asked them to raise their hands.

He said;

“We did as ordered because they were well-armed and so they searched our body and when they didn’t find anything, they collected the money and counted them all to be sure they were complete before they released the victims.

“We were asked to form a queue and one by one, we were attended to. If your money is complete, you will be asked to provide the name of the person you were paying for and the person will be called out then you will stand aside and the next person on the queue will be attended to.”

The source also told the publication that some of the kidnappers tried to have small talk with them, as one of them told them he was an ex-security agent who quit and joined the group. Others claimed to be from the Niger Republic and Cameroon. He also revealed that the students and three others were released around 10 pm on Saturday but by the time they got to Abuja Junction, it was about 2am on Sunday.

Some of the students told Daily Trust that their abductors beat them over their parents’ failure to raise the ransom requested. One student said the ransom was paid to secure the release of eight students while the ninth was released out of sympathy.

One of the students said;

“The abductors were unable to reach her relatives and they threatened to kill her but at the last minute, when we were about to leave, out of sympathy, she was asked to join us.

“They beat us and threatened us, but not as much as they beat the men in our midst. We slept in the open, on the grass and the kidnappers provided food and asked the females to cook meals. Sometimes we ate rice and yam and other times, we ate kwado-made from garri and kulikuli. The water was dirty but we had no option but to drink it.”

Another student who said she contracted malaria, revealed that the forest was cold with a lot of mosquitoes and most of them shivered during the night.

She said;

“They didn’t separate us. We were kept together with others. Some people were released on Friday but the nine of us were set free on Saturday together with three others. This is an experience I will never forget and I pray no one experiences it because it was terrible.”

The student also revealed that because they were all dirty and unkempt, the kidnappers gifted them N30, 000 to buy soap to wash their cloth.

The 2020 American Music Awards aired on Sunday night from Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater with Hollywood actress Taraji P. Henson as the host.

The event kicked off with Covid-19 protocols in place and had multiple live performances, as well as in-person presenters, and even a small audience.

Justin Bieber and Shawn Mendes opened the show with their new single, “Monster.” Bieber also performed two of his hit singles, “Lonely” and “Holy.”

Katy Perry took the stage for the first time since becoming a mom and performed “Only Love” with Darius Rucker. Megan Thee Stallion and Lil Baby also performed at the award.

Singers Taylor Swift, The Weeknd and country duo Dan + Shay emerged the top winners at the award, earning three trophies each.

Swift, who didn’t attend the show in person, scooped up prize of the night ; artist of the year — and another two AMAs for the favourite music video for “Cardigan” and favourite female artist – pop/rock.

The Weeknd earned three trophies in the soul/R&B category for favourite male artist, favourite album for ”After Hours”, and favourite song for “Heartless”.

Duo Dan + Shay bagged two awards for their song “10,000 Hours” featuring Justin Bieber in the collaboration of the year and favourite song – country categories. They were also adjudged favourite duo or group – country.

Rapper Doja Cat won two awards: new artist of the year and favourite female artist – soul/R&B.

See the full list of nominees and winners indicated in bold.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Justin Bieber

Post Malone

Roddy Ricch

Taylor Swift (WINNER)

The Weeknd

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lewis Capaldi

Doja Cat (WINNER)

DaBaby

Lil Baby

Roddy Ricch

Megan Thee Stallion

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP”

DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “Rockstar”

Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours” (WINNER)

Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande, “Rain On Me”

Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyoncé, “Savage Remix”

FAVORITE SOCIAL ARTIST
BTS (WINNER)

Billie Eilish

EXO

Ariana Grande

NCT 127

FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO
Doja Cat, “Say So”

Future ft. Drake, “Life Is Good”

Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande, “Rain On Me”

Taylor Swift, “Cardigan” (WINNER)

The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Justin Bieber (WINNER)

Post Malone

The Weeknd

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – POP/ROCK
Dua Lipa

Lady Gaga

Taylor Swift (WINNER)

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – POP/ROCK
BTS (WINNER)

Jonas Brothers

Maroon 5

FAVORITE ALBUM – POP/ROCK
Harry Styles, “Fine Line” (WINNER)

Taylor Swift, “Folklore”

The Weeknd, “After Hours”

FAVORITE SONG – POP/ROCK
Lewis Capaldi, “Someone You Loved”

Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now” (WINNER)

Post Malone, “Circles”

Roddy Ricch, “The Box”

The Weeknd, “Blinding Lights”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – COUNTRY
Kane Brown (WINNER)

Luke Combs

Morgan Wallen

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST- COUNTRY
Gabby Barrett

Miranda Lambert

Maren Morris (WINNER)

FAVORITE DUO OR GROUP – COUNTRY
Dan + Shay (WINNER)

Florida Georgia Line

Old Dominion

FAVORITE ALBUM – COUNTRY
Luke Combs, “What You See Is What You Get”

Blake Shelton, “Fully Loaded: God’s Country” (WINNER)

Morgan Wallen, “If I Know Me”

FAVORITE SONG – COUNTRY
Dan + Shay with Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours” (WINNER)

Maren Morris, “The Bones”

Blake Shelton (duet with Gwen Stefani), “Nobody But You”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
DaBaby

Juice WRLD (WINNER)

Roddy Ricch

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – RAP/HIP-HOP
Cardi B

Nicki Minaj (WINNER)

Megan Thee Stallion

FAVORITE ALBUM – RAP/HIP-HOP
Lil Baby, “My Turn”

Lil Uzi Vert, “Eternal Atake”

Roddy Ricch, “Please Forgive Me For Being Anti Social” (WINNER)

FAVORITE SONG – RAP/HIP-HOP
Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion, “WAP” (WINNER)

DaBaby ft. Roddy Ricch, “Rockstar”

Roddy Rich, “The Box”

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown

John Legend

The Weeknd (WINNER)

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST – SOUL/R&B
Jhene Aiko

Doja Cat (WINNER)

Summer Walker

FAVORITE ALBUM – SOUL/R&B
Doja Cat, “Hot Pink”

Summer Walker, “Over It”

The Weeknd, “After Hours” (WINNER)

FAVORITE SONG – SOUL/R&B
Chris Brown ft. Drake, “No Guidance”

Summer Walker, “Playing Games”

The Weeknd, “Heartless” (WINNER)

FAVORITE MALE ARTIST – LATIN, PRESENTED BY CHEETOS
Bad Bunny (WINNER)

J Balvin

Ozuna

FAVORITE FEMALE ARTIST- LATIN, PRESENTED BY CHEETOS
Becky G (WINNER)

Karol G

Rosalía

FAVORITE ALBUM – LATIN, PRESENTED BY CHEETOS
Anuel AA, “Emmanuel”

Bad Bunny, “Las Que No Iban A Salir”

Bad Bunny, “YHLQMDLG” (WINNER)

FAVORITE SONG – LATIN, PRESENTED BY CHEETOS
Bad Bunny “Vete”

Black Eyed Peas x J Balvin, “RITMO (Bad Boys for Life)”

Karol G & Nicki Minaj, “Tusa” (WINNER)

FAVORITE ARTIST – ALTERNATIVE ROCK
Billie Eilish

Tame Impala

Twenty One Pilots (WINNER)

FAVORITE ARTIST – ADULT CONTEMPORARY
Lewis Capaldi

Jonas Brothers (WINNER)

Maroon 5

FAVORITE ARTIST – CONTEMPORARY INSPIRATIONAL
Lauren Daigle (WINNER)

For King & Country

Kanye West

FAVORITE ARTIST – ELECTRONIC DANCE MUSIC (EDM)
Kygo

Lady Gaga (WINNER)

Marshmello

FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK
“Birds of Prey: The Album” (WINNER)

“Frozen 2”

“Trolls: World Tour”

Controversial U.S-based Nigerian entertainer, Speed Darlington, has called out Paul Okoye, RudeBoy.

According to Speed Darlington, Paul Okoye copied his outfit.

Shortly after Paul posted a photo of himself wearing a multi-coloured jacket, Speed took the photo and made a collage with a photo of him wearing same jacket and claimed Paul copied from him.

He wrote;

“Copy copy Be original oh wait you think because we speak the same language I won’t mind? Or maybe everything is a plan, you probably know I talk a lot so copying me may trigger me to say something which boosts your slow career; who knows”