The federal government has made it clear that it will not pay ransom amidst the fresh, mass kidnapping of over 300 pupils and teachers in the North.
Some of the perpetrators of the multiple abductions are demanding forty trillion naira in ransom.
Speaking to newsmen after a Federal Executive Council’s meeting, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Mohammed said the government would not yield to the kidnappers’ demand but will see to it that the abductees are rescued.
“Now, it is true that some of these are happening. We have seen what has happened in Kaduna, in Borno and then in Sokoto. Of course, government is watching that very closely and not just watching, also ensuring that security agencies are taking proactive steps to ensure that this is halted significantly.
“Now, like I said, Mr. President has said that is an unacceptable situation and the government will not condone abductions or kidnappings or any kind of criminality in that direction. We’re seeing this happening and government is taking very proactive steps, first to mitigate that, and also to stop the spread of this apparently.
“We are seeing that the more the security agencies are also hitting these targets or criminals, the more they are pushed to also getting some soft targets. But government is not taking any excuses,” Mohammed said.
He added that the president has directed security agencies to rescue all the kidnap victims, and make sure that not a dime is paid as ransom.
“So, it’s important to underscore that no dime, government is not paying anybody any dime and the government is optimistic that these children and other people that have been abducted will be brought back to their families in safety,” the minister stated.
