The Nigerian government has denied parting with any ransom to secure the release of the 344 abducted schoolboys in Kankara, Katsina State.
The entire country was thrown into a panic mood when the shocking news of the abduction of over 300 schoolboys from the Government Science Secondary School Kankara in the North Eastern Katsina State, broke the media space; an act the Boko Haram terrorist group were to later claim responsibility for.
At a World Press Conference on Friday in Abuja, the country’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, insists contrary to the perception of some Nigerians that the release of the Kankara boys was void of any payment of ransom or exchanges.
He stated that the release of the abducted pupils is an indication of the commitment of the Nigerian Government towards ensuring the safety of all Nigerians.
He said, “The release of these schoolboys is a testament to the importance that this Administration attaches to the security and safety of all Nigerians”.
It is noteworthy that the Kankara school boy’s abduction is the second of such incident to be recorded under the Buhari’s administration. 110 schoolgirls in were kidnapped in February 2018 in Dapchi area of Yobe State but all except one of the girls were later successfully rescued through the intervention of the Nigerian government.
In April 2014, at least 276 female students were kidnapped from a secondary school in the town of Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria in a daring and well-orchestrated move which caused an uproar in the entire country and globally.
The terrorist Boko Haram group, led by their leader, Abubakar Shekau, claimed responsibly for the act.
While over 100 of the girls were later successfully rescued from their captors by the government, the extremist group are still holding firm to at least 112 till this moment.
Lai Mohammed, while appraising the efforts of the present government, stated, “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.”
“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.” He said.