The Federal Government of Nigeria has said it would not pay “a dime” as ransom to secure the release of the over 280 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School, Kuriga in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, that were kidnapped on March 7.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known while talking to State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting which took place recently at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Idris said: “Mr. President reiterated his zero tolerance for the payment of ransom…and Mr President has also directed that no ransom will be paid by the government to any of these criminal elements.”
He added that the security agencies are “working round the clock” to ensure their release and that they would be “brought back to safety.”
The government made its stance known barely 24 hours after Kaduna-based Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, said he could dialogue with terrorists who abducted the students.
According to reports, the terrorists invaded Kuriga in Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna and shot at their targets before whisking away the pupils and teachers from both schools.
Locals revealed that the secondary section of the school was relocated to the primary school on account of the security threats to the Council.
While conveying further the President’s stance on the issue, Idris said:: “In council today, Mr. President reiterated his directive to the security agencies and the Ministry of Defence to ensure that our kids that have been abducted by these criminal gangs are brought back to their homes safely. This was also mentioned by Mr. President in council today
“So the security agencies are working around the clock. These children and people who have been abducted by criminal elements will be brought back to safety pretty soon.
“The security agencies are working hard in that direction. And Mr President has also directed that no ransom will be paid by the government to any of these criminal elements.”
