Tinubu’s government opens up on paying N1bn to secure release of Kaduna schoolchildren

The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that no ransom was paid to free the pupils who were abducted from Kuriga village in Kaduna state.

This was revealed by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, during Monday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The abducted Kuriga schoolchildren were taken from the Government Secondary and Primary Schools, Kuriga 1, Chikun LGA of the state, on March 7, 2024, and spent 17 days in captivity.

Before their release, bandits who held them had threatened to execute the hostages if a ₦1 billion ransom was not paid within 20 days.

Tinubu had vowed not to pay any ransom to secure the return of the schoolchildren, but many believed the terrorists won’t have freed their hostages without being paid.

Clearing the air on controversy, Idris said; “As promised by Mr. President, they have been rescued. No ransom was paid.”

The minister applauded President Tinubu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Service Chiefs, and everyone else who made a significant contribution to the kids’ release.

The minister added that President Tinubu has directed security services to step up their efforts to put an end to the nationwide kidnapping crisis.

He said: “The President has also charged security agencies to make sure kidnappings are brought to a halt, and all the perpetrators of kidnapping will be fished out and punished.”

Meanwhile, the schoolchildren have arrived at Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House at about 2:09 p.m.

They were transported in five buses from 1 Division Nigerian Army Headquarters in Kaduna, amid tight security.

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