NIGERIA’S President Bola Tinubu has unequivocally declared a stance against paying ransom for the release of recently abducted schoolchildren and women, as announced by Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Wednesday in Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
Minister Idris conveyed the president’s directive to the media, emphasising the necessity for unified efforts among security agencies to facilitate the rescue of the victims. The government remains steadfast in its commitment to exploring collaborative strategies with international partners while maintaining a resolute stance of non-negotiation with criminal gangs.
The recent abduction occurred last Thursday in the northwestern state of Kaduna, where gunmen seized at least 287 students from schools, prompting immediate search and rescue operations by security forces. This incident follows a similar abduction of women in late February in the northeastern state of Borno. Both incidents have sparked widespread concerns nationwide.
Minister Idris assured the public of ongoing efforts by security forces to ensure the safe return of the abducted individuals. The assault in Kaduna marks one of the largest mass abductions from a Nigerian school in recent years, occurring after a gang of gunmen invaded Kuriga town in the state.
Although no specific armed group has claimed responsibility for the recent abduction, it evokes memories of a similar mass kidnapping a decade ago in April 2014. During that incident, over 200 schoolgirls were abducted from their dormitories in Borno by the Boko Haram terror group, highlighting the persistent threat posed by such criminal acts in the region.