President Bola Tinubu has warned against payment of ransom to free about 280 students and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School, Kuriga, Kaduna State that were kidnapped by bandits recently.
On Wednesday, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Tinubu took some time to reflect on insecurity in the country, especially the recent kidnap of over 280 students, teachers inclusive in Kaduna State.
While the deliberations lasted, President Tinubu gave a stern warning to the security personnel in the country to go after the kidnappers and rescue the abductees without payment of any dime.
Recall that over 280 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA Primary School, Kuriga, Kaduna State, were abducted by bandits, a development that triggered national outrage.
The bandits operated unhindered in Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, shooting at their victims before taking away at least 280 comprising of students and teachers away.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, gave hint of what transpired at the FEC while briefing State House reporters.
Recall also that the bandits have allegedly made demands of ransom to the tune of N40 trillion, specified number of Hilux vans and motor-bikes to secure the release of the victims.
Although the security agencies have recorded some successes in its onslaught on bandits and other criminal elements, the unreasonable ransom being demanded by the bandits appears to have infuriated the government, prompting the presidential directives.
All these comes just as the controversial Muslim cleric, Sheik Gumi, has advised the Federal Government to negotiate with the terrorists.
Gumi had warned President Bola Tinubu not to toe the line of previous governments, as embracing negotiations with bandits was more beneficial.
Disclosing the presidential directive, Idris said, “In council today, Mr. President reiterated his directive to the security agencies and the ministry of defence to ensure that those our kids that have been abducted by these criminal gangs are brought back to their homes safely.
“Mr. President has also reiterated his zero tolerance for payment of ransom.
That was also mentioned by Mr. President at the council today. So, the security agencies are working round the clock.
“These children and people that 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 government to any of these criminal elements. It is important that it will be put out there.” Fielding a question on the worrisome resurgence of kidnapping in the country, the minister said, “You’re also asking about the apparent surge in this kidnapping across the country.
Now it is true that some of these are happening, we have seen what has happened in Kaduna, in Borno and then in Sokoto.
“Of course, government is watching that very closely and not just watching, also ensuring that security agencies are taking proactive steps to ensure that this is halted significantly.
“Now, like I said, Mr. President has said that it is an unacceptable situation and the government will not condone abductions or kidnappings or any kind of criminality in that direction.
We’re seeing this happening and government is taking very proactive steps, first to mitigate that, and also to stop the spread of this apparently… “We are seeing that the more the security agencies are also hitting these targets or criminals, the more they are pushed to also getting some soft targets. But government is not taking any excuses.
“The president has directed that security agencies must, as a matter of urgency, ensure that these children and all those who have been kidnapped are brought back in safety and also in the process to ensure that not a dime is paid for ransom.
“So, it’s important to underscore that no dime, government is not paying anybody any dime and the government is optimistic that these children and other people that have been abducted will be brought back to their families in safety.”
