Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani has insisted that no ransom was paid for the release of the abducted school children who were released on Sunday.
In addressing inquiries about the circumstances surrounding the release of the children, Sani in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday night said Nigerians should shift their focus to the positive end of the incident, rather than asking unimportant questions
“This question should go to the security agencies particularly. For me, the most important thing as a governor is the protection of life and property and dignity of people of Kaduna state. So, when the incident happened, I went to the service chiefs, NSA, the president and everyone that can help. Today, I am happy they have returned. I didn’t want to ask anybody a question. I even cautioned other people from asking questions. You need to see how happy the families of the children are and for me as a governor, that is more important.
“Yesterday (Sunday), I was asking someone that asked me similar question. If my child was abducted and is released, I won’t bother about how he is being released. The most important thing is that they are back home safely.
The Governor emphasized the need to avoid irresponsible speculation, particularly regarding the number of abducted children and the circumstances of their release.
He also cautioned against the dissemination of unverified information, labeling such actions as “irresponsible” and indicative of ulterior motives by conflict merchants.
“I was worried when everyone was talking when they were in captivity and now, they have been released, I thought everyone would be happy. I was expecting them to be jubilating but unfortunately a lot of people came with questions, how were they released? Was there a gun battle? For us in Kaduna, what is more important is that our children are back home and I did not ask any questions because I was eager to receive them.
“The children will not be happy to hear me waste my time here talking about whether there were gun battles or anything. As you ask me the question, just give me time to find out but as far as I am concerned, I believe in our armed forces. They told me no ransom was paid and I believe it. So, we should thank God.
“Today, I send a word of caution to conflict merchants, when these children were abducted, people who had no idea about Kaduna, who had no contact with the families, who had made no efforts to see that they are released, went to the media with very irresponsible senseless numbers, 287. For me, that statement is the height of irresponsibility. That’s the reason I still believe that there are still conflict merchants who are not happy that the children are home safely.”
He commended President Tinubu for his unwavering support throughout the ordeal, highlighting the president’s constant communication and shared burden with the affected families.
“We have to give glory to God for the safe return of our children back home. I appreciate our president who from the beginning of this incident, from the day of abduction, he was with me and discussing with me all the time on the phone. He shared the pain and burden with us.”
Sani further announced plans for a national security summit, aimed at fostering collaboration among security agencies to address ongoing challenges and prevent future incidents.
He expressed confidence that this initiative would provide a platform for constructive dialogue and accountability.
“After this incident, we are working towards a national security summit, where all the security agencies in Nigeria will combine together and I believe that would be a bigger opportunity for some of us to ask questions.”
Chioma Kalu
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Although government continues to insist that she did not pay any ransom for the recent “rescue” of the 137 pupils of the Kuriga school; however, analysts and informed operators in the area of intelligence and security, dispute government’s claim. Reality is that, the kidnappers are operators in a subterranean and booming kidnapping economy, who are essentially out to make a profit. Hence, having “invested” and risked so much to acquire their prized “products” (unfortunately, the hapless pupils), and after having fixed a “price” for them; it does not make sense that they will hand them over, cost-free to government.
However, if peradventure, government did not pay ransom to “rescue” the 137 students; then a possible explanation for such a rare “stroke of luck” can only, in the mean time, exist in the realms of plausible conjecture. Therefore, given that :
1. Bandits are known to be swayed by religious and ethnic sentiments, as we saw in the kidnaps at Dapchi (Yobe state, where kidnappees were treated differently by religion) and in Jangebe (Zamfara state, where discriminatory treatment was along ethnic lines). Additionally, anecdotal evidence from kidnappees, have alleged differentiation, and differential treatment, along religious lines, at the point of kidnap or in captivity;
2. Kaduna is an ethnically and religiously diverse state; a diversity which could have been easily and plausibly replicated in the population of the kidnapped pupils;
Hence, and as we saw in Dapchi, could it possibly be that this “first batch” were “rescued” (“free of charge”) along, more plausibly, religious lines, and more so, in the spirit of the on-going fast of Ramadan, and a big show made of their release, "free of charge"; with the proviso that, the non-Muslims will be held as a tool for secret pecuniary bargains in future or may even have been simultaneously , but secretly, released upon payment of ransom? Could the, curiously undisputed (for 17 clear days) and incredulously high, discrepancy between the figure of 287 pupils that was reportedly abducted initially, and the 137 pupils, who were ultimately “rescued”, be the population of those who were actually left behind or secretly released? Why has government placed a gagging order on the parents of the kidnapped pupils, and why are the parents – who should be the real chief celebrants of this “rescue” – being sidelined in their moment of joy, and in their own celebration? And, why is government curiously and unscientifically, saying that she is not willing to “learn lessons” from this experience, by insisting that she is not interested in knowing and / or revealing how the Kuriga pupils were “rescued”?
Questions upon questions; the truth is that, as is, government’s story simply does not add up, especially to the perceptive mind. And government could do better than employing diversionary and smear tactics.