Tegina Abduction: Niger Governor rules out payment of ransom

Niger State Government in North Central Nigeria, is  planing to use the same strategy adopted for the release of Kagara School boys to  secure the release of Tegina Islamic School Pupils recently abducted in Rafi Local government area of the state.

The Deputy Governor of the State, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed Ketso, mentioned this after a joint security meeting with head of security agencies in the State on Tuesday.

Ketso Who ruled out payment of Ransome for securing the released of  the Pupils, said the  State government was on the pursuit of the bandits and efforts are being put in place to identify the bandits.

“We don’t pay ransom to abductors. We are trying to negotiate to see how we can bring them back safely”, He added

The Niger State Government according to him has already taken proactive measures  by temporarily  changing   government Secondary schools in Tegina  from boarding to Day Schools due the incessant attack on schools in the area and some parts of the State.

‘Government through  proactive steps has temporarily changed them to day schools and made sure every primary and secondary school has a semblance of the security team that can respond immediately”

The Deputy Governor further disclosed that the affected Islamic School in Tegina  community has three components comprising of Nursery, primary and junior secondary school.

“The number of the kidnapped school children is not ascertained, however, efforts by security agencies to secure their release have been intensified”. added  the Deputy Governor

He however mentioned that  the State government has already made contact with some of the identified parents of the kidnapped children, assuring them of their safe return.

It could be recalled Some Students of Government Science Secondary School kagara in Rafi Local government of Niger State , which is about 10 kilometers away from Tegina  were also abducted by bandits in the 3 months ago.

Niger State in North Central Nigeria is among state in the Country recently engulfed with  the resurgence of banditry activities.

Reports from the Police Command in the Niger also confirms other banditry activities in the state within two to three days were scores of live and properties were lost .

Ime N