- The Minister further stated that President Tinubu has urged security agencies to ramp up efforts to address the menace of kidnapping across the country.
The Federal Government has disclosed that no ransom was paid to secure the freedom of the kidnapped schoolchildren from Kuriga village in Kaduna State early this month
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the disclosure while addressing State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Monday.
Idris said: “As promised by Mr. President, they have been rescued. No ransom was paid.”
The minister expressed President Tinubu’s gratitude to the National Security Adviser, NSA; Service Chiefs, and all those who played crucial roles in securing the students’ release.
Recall that President Tinubu had promised that the Federal Government would not pay any ransom to secure the release of abducted victims.
The Minister further stated that President Tinubu has urged security agencies to ramp up efforts to address the menace of kidnapping across the country.
“The President has also charged security agencies to make sure kidnappings are brought to a halt, and all the perpetrators of kidnapping will be fished out and punished,” Idris said
Meanwhile, a former Commandant of the Defence Intelligence College, Commodore Kunle Olawunmi (Rtd) has weighed in on the deepening security crisis that pervades the nation.
Olawumi particularly spoke on the abduction of over 137 students abducted by gunmen at the Kuriga School on March 7 and their subsequent release.
Speaking on the matter in an interview on Arise TV on Monday, March 25, the ex-military officer said the federal government paid ransom.
He noted that the release wouldn’t be possible unless ransom was paid by the federal government to the abductors.
“Ransom was paid, let me just answer that one. Let them take me on or debunk it,” he said.