Crime & SecurityNewsNigeriaHow We Secured Release of Katsina Schoolboys from ‘Bandits’ – Gov Masari

The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, has said that ransom was not paid before kidnappers freed hundreds of schoolboys kidnapped from Kankara part of the state.

The governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, had earlier  revealed how he facilitated the release of 344 students without payment of ransom.

He said the boys, kidnapped last week, were released after negotiations with the kidnappers whom he described as bandits. He did not, however, say what the bandits got in return for freeing the students.

In an interview with VOA  Hausa on Thursday night, Mr Masari said the boys were being conveyed to Katsina at the time of this report.

“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,” Mr Masari said at about 10 p.m. Thursday night.

“At the moment, we have arranged for vehicles to transport them from where they are to the state capital, Katsina. From then, we will pass them through to doctors to diagnose them,” he said.

“Those involved in the negotiation include my adviser, some top military and police operatives. Members of Miyetti Allah; (they) were all involved in the negotiation.”

When asked if the government paid ransom before the release of the schoolboys, he said money was not paid.

“We did not pay ransom to the kidnappers, it was purely negotiation,” he said.

“They are bandits who kidnapped the schoolboys, not Boko Haram.

“What we will do next is to transport them to us in Katsina, ask our doctors to look at them and then give them new clothes to wear and reunite them with their parents,” he said.