We Didn’t Pay a Kobo to Secure Release of 334 Schoolboys from Bandits, Says Masari
Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari, said after confirming the release of the abducted students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara Thursday evening that his administration did not pay a kobo as ransom.
The governor said the boys were at Tsafe, Zamfara State, and would be transported to Kankara on Friday.
“We did not pay ransom to the kidnappers, it was purely negotiation, he told DWTV Hausa in an interview later on Thursday.
“One hour ago, Nigerian soldiers and government officials that were involved in the negotiation for the release of the kidnapped schoolboys have told us that the whole school children have been released, 344 of them.
“Those involved in the negotiation include my adviser, some top military and police operatives, members of Miyetti Allah; (they) where all involved in the negotiation.”
Newspapers in Nigeria have however reported the Nigerian Army on Wednesday to have said they were not part of any negotiation for the release of the schoolboys.
Masari insisted that those who kidnapped the boys were not Boko Haram.
“They are bandits who kidnapped the schoolboys, not Boko Haram.”
Boko Haram had claimed responsibility for the abduction of the schoolboys and has released a video of the boys pleading to the government to cooperate with their abductors in securing their release, even parents of the students denied knowing any of the boys shown in the video.
According to Masari, the release of the boys was facilitated by the leadership of MACABAN/Miyetti Allah.
Zamfara State police commissioner, Usman Nagogo, also confirmed that the students are in the state and would be handed over to Katsina state government as soon as possible.
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