The Federal Government stated on Wednesday that it will not give any money as ransom for the release of over 280 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School at Kuriga, Kaduna State, who were kidnapped on March 7.
“The President again expressed his strong refusal to pay any ransom…and directed that the government will not pay any money to these criminal groups,” the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told State House correspondents at the end of Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting held at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Idris insisted that the security agencies are working tirelessly to ensure their release and that they will be brought back to safety.
His comments come just 24 hours after Kaduna-based Muslim cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi offered to have discussions with the terrorists who abducted at least 280 schoolchildren from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
The terrorists reportedly attacked Kuriga in Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna, firing at their targets before taking away the pupils and teachers from both schools.
Local residents said the secondary section of the school had been moved to the primary school due to security threats to the Council.
A day earlier, the United Nations confirmed the abduction of at least 200 internally displaced persons from their camp in Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State.
In a statement issued last Wednesday, the UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, stated that the abductees, including women, boys and girls, were seized while gathering firewood.
While the actual number of IDPs abducted is unknown, Fall mentioned that there could be over 200 people. He added that the terrorists released some older women and children under 10 years old.
Gumi suggested that to expedite the release of the abducted schoolchildren, the President should allow him to negotiate.
The Islamic scholar cautioned against Tinubu making the same mistake as his immediate predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to negotiate with bandits.
Conveying the President’s position on the matter, the minister said, “Today in council, the President reiterated his directive to the security agencies and the Ministry of Defence to ensure that our kids abducted by these criminal groups are safely returned home. This was also mentioned by the President in council today.
“So the security agencies are working around the clock. These children and people who have been abducted by criminal groups will be brought back to safety very soon.
“The security agencies are working hard in that direction. And the President has also instructed that the government will not pay any ransom to these criminal groups.”.
On TVC’s Politics on Sunday, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed that the FG is receiving support from the United States government for the release of the students, teachers and IDPs.
When asked what kind of help the US is ready to give Nigeria in the rescue efforts, Idris said that they know it's not just the US offering help. Other countries also want to support Nigeria. The government is still considering these offers and will tell the public its decision.
Now, as I said, the President has stated that this situation is not acceptable. The government will not tolerate abductions, kidnapping, or any kind of criminal activity in that direction. The government is taking proactive steps to reduce and stop the spread of this.
The government isn't making excuses. The President has ordered security agencies to quickly bring back the kidnapped children and others safely, without paying any ransom. It's important to emphasize that the government is not giving any money to anyone.
The FG expressed hope that these children and others who are kidnapped will be returned safely to their families.
President Tinubu strongly criticized the abductions and told security agencies to ensure their rescue.
Tinubu, who said he had been briefed on both abductions, assured Nigerians that rescue efforts are ongoing.
I have been briefed by security chiefs on the two incidents, and I am confident that the victims will be rescued.
I won't accept anything else, and the families of the abducted citizens shouldn't have to wait. Justice will be decisively served, as stated by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.
The statement is called ‘President Tinubu condemns Borno, Kaduna abductions; directs immediate rescue of captives.’
The President instructs security and intelligence agencies to promptly rescue the victims and ensure that the perpetrators of these terrible acts face justice.
He also sympathized with the families of the victims and assured them that they would soon be reunited with their loved ones.
