Two parents of kidnapped school children in Tegina in Nigeria’s central Niger state have died of trauma, local media report.

They had been in shock after armed gangs kidnapped the students from their school on Sunday.

The parents were said to have suddenly fallen sick and became unconscious.

The kidnappers are said to be demanding ransom before they release the children – and have threatened their lives if it is not paid, according to reports.

Earlier, the principal of the Islamic school told the BBC that he spoke with the kidnappers and they assured him that the children were in good health.

Abubakar Alhassan said 136 students could not be accounted for, including five of his children, after a headcount was conducted following the abductions. Three of the teachers are also missing.

However, there’s still no official confirmation of the exact number of students that were kidnapped.