Kaduna schoolchildren: It’s not important if ransom was paid or not — Gov Sani

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has emphasized that the debate surrounding the ransom payment for the release of the abducted Kuriga students holds no significance.

Speaking on Channel Television’s Sunday Politics, Governor Sani highlighted that the paramount concern is the safe return of the children, which has been achieved without harm.

The students were abducted from LEA Primary School and Government Secondary School, Kuriga, approximately four weeks ago. However, the Defence Headquarters announced their successful rescue on Saturday. Addressing speculations of ransom payment, Governor Sani dismissed such claims, asserting the primary focus should be on the children’s safe return.

He stated, “What is more important today is that our children are back home. Most of those permutations are not necessary. If your child is kidnapped, will you be sitting down and talking about how he was released?” Governor Sani emphasized the joyous reunion of the children with their families, dismissing external speculations as irrelevant.

Governor Sani further disclosed that the government handled the abduction discreetly to safeguard the lives of the innocent children. He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens, dismissing attempts to politicize the incident.

Clarifying the number of abducted students, Governor Sani stated that 137, not 287, children were taken on March 7, 2024. However, he emphasized that the exact number was inconsequential compared to the safe return of the children.