The Federal Government (FG) disclosed it would not pay a ‘dime’ as ransom for the release of about 280 pupils and staff recently kidnapped by bandits from the Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School at Kaduna State. This disclosure was made on Wednesday to State House Correspondents by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held at Aso Rock, Abuja.
He 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.
According to him, “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 brough back to safety pretty soon.”
16 residents of Gonin Gora in Kaduna State were recently kidnapped and a ransom of N40 trillion, 11 Hilux vans and 150 motorcycles has been demanded by their abductors to ensure their release.
Similarly, the abductors of the pupils and staff have requested for a ransom payment of N1 billion to secure the release of their hostages.