The Nigerian government has said that there was no ransom paid nor any form of exchange for the release of over 344 abducted schoolboys in Kankara, Katsina State, North-West Nigeria.
This was disclosed by the country’s Information and Culture Minister Alhaji Lai Mohammed at a World Press Conference on Friday in Abuja.
The Nigerian Government reiterated that despite the challenges, it was doing everything possible to secure schools and the lives of Nigerians.
“The release of these schoolboys is a testament to the importance that this Administration attaches to the security and safety of all Nigerians.
“There is no government in the world that will not face the challenges of security at one time or another. No government in the world is immune to terrorist attacks. What stands any government out is the way and manner it responds to such challenges.”
The Minister said that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will do everything possible to prevent a recurrence of these school abductions.
“But we also make bold to say that we have moved with speed and determination each time we have faced the challenge of school abductions, and the results attest to this.
“Each time this has happened, we have always accepted responsibility, rather than being in denial. And that has made all the difference in whether or not the abducted school children have been recovered. We will not relent until all those who remain missing in Chibok and Dapchi and reunited with their families.”
The Minister submitted that irrespective of the security challenges that the nation may be facing at this time, they are not insurmountable.
The Minister also used the platform to appeal to those who are quick to politicize the issue of security to desist from such.
“The reactions in certain quarters to the Kankara incident was shameful. Some Nigerians went as far as denigrating their government and country in the most uncouth and irresponsible manner.
“They simply threw decorum to the wind and allowed their emotions to take a better part of them. When disasters and tragedies strike, people come together. We hope the naysayers have learnt their lessons.
“We hope those who have started trading and politicking with the hashtag ‘BringBackOurBoys’ can now go home, as our boys have been brought back, even before their dubious campaign could take off.”
It would be recalled that last Friday, 344 schoolboys were kidnapped from their school in Kankara Local Government, Katsina State, North-West Nigeria.
The abduction of the Kankara school boys marked the second of its kind under the present Administration, coming after the abduction of 110 schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe State, North-East Nigeria in February 2018.
However, just like the Kankara release, all but one of the kidnapped schoolgirls in Dapchi were rescued unharmed.
Meanwhile, in 2014, 276 schoolgirls were abducted by terrorists in Chibok, Borno State, North-East Nigeria out of which 112 remained in captivity after the present Administration rescued over 100 of the girls.
Suzan O
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