No ransom was paid for the release of Kaduna schoolchildren, FG declares

On Monday, the Federal Government declared that no ransom had been paid to free the 137 students who had been abducted from Kuriga in Kaduna State's Chikun Local Government Area.

“In keeping with the commitment of Mr President, no ransom was paid,” the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Idris claims that the president promised to punish and fish out anyone engaged in the kidnapping, while also acknowledging the security services' involvement in ensuring the abductees' safe return.

The students were abducted on March 6 when militants riding motorbikes assaulted their school and took the students hostage. The operation sparked outrage and criticism from the international world, including UNICEF, the UN agency that works to protect children.

In contrast to rumours of 287 students saved, 137 students were rescued, according to a statement released on Sunday by Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations.

Buba claims that early on Sunday morning, the military and local Zamfara State authorities worked together to rescue the students.

At the time, militants who kidnapped the Kuriga schoolchildren had accepted a dialogue offer from Muslim cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, who was headquartered in Kaduna.

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