Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture has debunked claims that ransoms was paid in securing the release of the Dapchi schoolgirls of Yobe State and the Kankara schoolboys of Kastina state.
Lai has said that the government never paid any ransoms to bandits when these sets of school children were abducted. This is coming after claims that the government was funding bandits and other sects by paying ransoms to them.
Following the abduction of students and staff members of the Government Science College in Kagara, Niger State, there have been claims that the government has already paid 800 million naira to the bandits for the release of the victims.
Speaking on Channels Television on Saturday, February 20, the Minister said that the stories about ransoms are merely conspiracy theories.
He said;
“All these stories about ransom, are conspiracy theories
“Government has put in place various strategies to contain banditry, insurgency and kidnapping.
“Some of these measures are kinetic, some are non-kinetic.”
When he was asked about the progress being made for the release of the Kagara victims and if a ransom will be paid. He said;
“No, “I can assure you that the government is on top of the matter – but it is not a subject matter for television discussion.
“We didn’t get there overnight, that is why we can’t get out in one day”.
Lai also stated that banditry exists all over the world. According to him, bandits have the pattern of attacking women and children because they now it will catch the attention of people from all over the world.
“That is exactly what bandits do all over the world, solidarity in any form will not be tolerated by this government,” he said.
See video below;
"I can say categorically, No penny was paid for the Kankara boys, none was paid for the Dapchi girls." – Lai Mohammed pic.twitter.com/4RrtcIGOzO
— Channels Television (@channelstv) February 20, 2021
