Nigeria got foreign support in the rescue of Kankara schoolboys but no ransome was paid – Lai Mohammed

By our reporter| Nigeria got foreign help for the release of the 344 abducted schoolboys of Kankara, Katsina State, minister of information, Lai Mohammed has said.

“As to whether there was foreign collaboration, don’t forget I said that we thank all patriotic Nigerians and all friends of Nigeria,” he said.

Mohammed who declined to give details of those foreign individuals or countries involved and the support given, however, insisted that no ransom was paid for the release of the students.

“Our security and intelligence agencies were completely on top of the situation.”

“There is no where in the world that they don’t negotiate with terrorists”, especially when there is a need to save lives, he added.

The further also reiterated governmrnt’s earlier position that the boys were kidnapped by bandits, and not Boko Haram.

Mohammed said, “They were kidnapped by bandits, not by Boko Haram.

“The attempt by Boko Haram to claim responsibility shows how decimated and irrelevant they have become.

“There is no doubt as to who kidnapped the schoolboys.

“Boko Haram was seeking relevance by trying to appropriate to themselves the work of bandits.

“A lot of fake videos were being sent out by Boko Haram to create the impression that they did it.

“Boko Haram is weakened and seeking relevance and trying to give the impression that they are still a potential force.”

‘Buhari coordinated rescue mission’

He also said that the abduction of the schoolboys as well as those of Chibok and Dapchi schoolgirls as totally unacceptable.

He said, “Our children should not have to go to school in trepidation.

“The Federal Government is doing everything possible to secure all our schools, and indeed all Nigerians.

“And we will not relent until all Nigerians can go to bed at night with their two eyes closed.

“The release of these schoolboys is a testament to the importance that this Administration attaches to the security and safety of all Nigerians.

“There is no government in the world that will not face the challenges of security at one time or another.

“No government in the world is immune to terrorist attacks.

“What stands any government out iis the way and manner it responds to such challenges.

“For example, school shooting has been a recurring challenge in the United States. Between 2010 and 2020, almost 200 school children were killed and many more injured in various school shooting incidents.

“Needless to say that the world’s most powerful country suffered a tragic terrorist attack in September 2001 that claimed almost 3,000 lives.”

“Back here in Nigeria, the abduction of the Kankara school boys marked the second of its kind under this Administration, coming after the unfortunate abduction of 110 schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe State, in February 2018.

“Just like the good news from Kankara, all but one of the kidnapped schoolgirls in Dapchi were rescued unharmed.

“And in 2014, 276 school girls were abducted by terrorists in Chibok, Borno State, out of which 112 remain in captivity after this Administration rescued over 100 of the school girls.”