[5] While an investigation was ongoing, an anonymous security official told the Agence France-Presse that the attackers were believed to belong to a criminal gang.

[6] On 21 February, a military plane on its way to Minna to try to rescue the 42 hostages crashed, killing all seven people on board.

[7] On 24 February, the media reported that the kidnappers were negotiating with the parents of the abducted schoolboys for the payment of ransom for their release.

The leader of the kidnappers, identified in the media as Dogo Gide, demanded the phone contacts of the parents so that he can negotiate with each of them directly.

[8] The state government of Niger insisted that it was still involved in negotiations with the kidnappers for an unconditional release of the abductees.