 The Niger State Government has banned commercial motorcycles from appraising in Mina, adding that the ban was part of a proactive steps to protect the city and government seat from bandits. The Deputy Governor Ahmed Kesou announced this while briefing journalist a week after gunmen abducted 136 pupils from an Islamic school in Tejina. He also reiterated the state government's commitment to rescue the school children, noting that negotiations with the abductors were ongoing. According to Kesou, the negotiation was not about the payment of ransom but on how to secure the release of the pupils on hurt.