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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Federal Government has revealed that no ransom was paid for the release of the 137 schoolchildren abducted from Kuriga, in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made the disclosure after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday.
According to him, the non-payment of ransom is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s policy of dealing with such matters.
Idris said the president appreciated the role of the security agencies in the safe return of the pupils and vowed that all those involved in such acts in the country would be fished out.
“As promised by Mr. President, they have been rescued. No ransom was paid.
“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,” he said.
Recall that the students were abducted on March 7, by bandits who invaded their schools in Kuriga community, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Sani Abdullahi, a teacher at the Government Secondary School, Kuriga, had said 287 students were missing after the attack.
In the early hours of Sunday, Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, announced the release of the schoolchildren.
Sani said all the 137 abducted students were freed except the teacher who died in captivity.
The Kaduna governor said only 137 students were kidnapped in the school and not 287 as widely reported.