- By Halimah Olamide
All the kidnapped pupils of Kuriga school Kaduna have been released.
This was made known in the early hours of Sunday by Governor Uba Sanni of Kaduna state.
NPO Reports that the Governor was silent on the exact manner in which the about 280 pupils were released.
NPO Reports also that the pupils were kidnapped from their school on March 8 this year.
The kidnappers had demanded a sum of N1bn and some patrol vans as ransom for the release of the pupils,
The president, Bola Tinubu, had vowed never to pay any ransom just as he charged security agencies to free the hostages.
See the Governor’s Full Statement Below:
In the name of Allah the Beneficient, the Most Merciful, I wish to announce that our Kuriga school children have been released.
Our special appreciation goes to our dear President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for prioritizing the safety and security of Nigerians and particularly ensuring that the abducted Kuriga school children are released unharmed. While the school children were in captivity, I spoke with Mr. President several times. He shared our pains, comforted us and worked round the clock with us to ensure the safe return of the children.
Special mention must also be made of our dear brother, the National Security Adviser, Mal. Nuhu Ribadu for his exemplary leadership. I spent sleepless nights with Mal. Ribadu finetuning strategies and coordinating the operations of the security agencies, eventually resulted in this successful outcome.
The Nigerian Army also deserves special commendation for showing that with courage, determination and commitment, criminal elements can be degraded and security restored in our communities.
We also thank all Nigerians who prayed fervently for the safe return of the school children. This is indeed a day of joy. We give Almighty Allah all the glory.
Senator Uba Sani,
Governor, Kaduna State.
March 24th, 2024