Nigeria, Feb. 24 -- A week after the abduction of 27 schoolboys and 15 others at Government Science College, Kagara in Niger State, the suspected kidnappers have demanded direct negotiation with the parents of the victims for the ransoms .

The development is contrary to the position of the federal and state governments that they are negotiating with the kidnappers and hope to secure the release of the victims soon.

The suspected leader of the kidnappers was reported to have spoken with a representative of the parents on the phone for about eight minutes on Monday.

He was also reported to have given conditions for cessation of criminality in Rafi Local Government Area where Kagara is located. The area has been under the siege of bandits...