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•Ministers insist ransom wasn’t paid to secure release of Kuriga schoolchildren
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye and Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Government has taken a firm stance regarding the controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, saying he is not above the law and has already been invited for questioning.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this disclosure while responding to questions from State House Correspondents yesterday after the Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.
Following the statements made by Sheikh Gumi in relation to the abduction of over 280 pupils and teachers in Kaduna State, the minister said the government has deemed it necessary to invite him for questioning.
The minister emphasised that no ransom was paid for the recently freed abducted students from Kuriga in Kaduna State, reiterating President Tinubu’s directive to ensure their safe return without any financial concession to criminal elements.
Gumi’s offer to negotiate with the terrorists responsible for the abductions has raised concerns by Nigerians questioning why he has not been invited for interrogation.
The minister highlighted that Gumi was not above the law and must be held accountable for his actions and statements.
The government’s position reflects a zero-tolerance policy towards negotiating with bandits and underscores the importance of upholding law and order in addressing security challenges.
This move comes amidst growing pressure on the government to address the escalating security crisis in Nigeria, particularly concerning the safety of schoolchildren and internally displaced persons.
The minister said: “The government will stop at nothing to get any kind of information that is required to solve our problems as the security agencies are up and doing. Sheik Gumi or any other individual is not above the law, if he has suggestions that are good enough and that are constructive enough for the security agencies to take, they will take, but if they think that he is also making some statements that appear to be reckless, he will also be reprimanded.
There is nobody that is above the law. Let me put it here and I’m aware that he has been also a guest of security agencies to answer questions. When you make remarks, especially remarks that border on our national security, it is incumbent on our national security to think further and they are doing just that; no one is above the law.”
On Kuriga children’s release, Idris said: “As promised by Mr. President, they have been rescued. No ransom was paid.”
The schoolchildren, who were kidnapped on March 7, 2024, at Kuriga in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, were said to have been rescued in early hours of Sunday by men of the Nigerian Army, somewhere in Zamfara State.
The minister expressed President Tinubu’s gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Service Chiefs, and all those that played crucial roles in securing the students’ release.
Idris also revealed that President Tinubu has charged security agencies to intensify efforts to halt the menace of kidnapping across the country.
“The government is determined to ensure that the lives and property of all Nigerians are protected at all times, and Mr. President has also charged the security agencies to ensure that the kidnappings are brought to a halt finally in this country.
“Indeed, all those who are participating in this criminal act, will be fished out by the security agencies and will never go unpunished.”
Addressing doubts on the number of children kidnapped and released, the minister said: “On reports that 287 of these children were taking in, what I can tell you is that there is no report that any of these kidnap victims either died or has been withheld.
“So, those that have been taken have been brought back in safety to their families. I can tell you that.“
School authorities had told the state government that a total of 287 students were kidnapped when motorcycle-riding gunmen invaded the remote Kuriga school on March 7.
However, the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, told local media late Sunday that only 137 young people were abducted during the attack.
In a separate development, Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, also debunked rumours that ransom was paid to the bandits for the release of the 287 abducted Kaduna school children.
He, however, disclosed that in the process of rescuing the children, a teacher who was among the kidnapped victims died.
He spoke at two-day capacity building workshop for desk officers of the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters, parastatals, tertiary institutions and federal government colleges on the implementation, collation, harmonisation and reportage of presidential priority areas/ministerial deliverables and roadmap for Nigeria’s education sector. held in Abuja
He appreciated the efforts of the Kaduna State Government and the security agencies coordinated by the National Security Adviser, which culminated in the safe return of the school children, and assured that stronger measures were being taken to strengthen security in all educational facilities across the country.
The Minister also disclosed that plans were at advanced stage for the conduct of what he described as “mini-census” across all educational facilities in Nigeria. “This will involve collating data of infrastructures in the schools, teachers, other personnel, and even data of the children in the schools. We would work closely with the state governments in doing so.
“This, undoubtedly, will expose us to real time information of what’s obtained in our schools. Additionally, it will help us greatly in formulating policies and programmes that would particularly assist us tackle the issue of out-of-school children, infrastructural deficit, and manpower challenges.”
He, thus, challenged the participants to take advantage of the workshop to key into the government’s plan for the education sector, and not be weaklings on the chain of progress.
“In the course of the training, you will be exposed to eight priority areas of the administration; the 23 ministerial deliverables which we signed with the President to deliver to Nigerians; and the 13 pillars of the education for Renewed Hope: Nigerian Education Sector Roadmap 2024-2027. These policies are our working tools and our commitment to implementing them is topmost,” he said.
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, said the training was particularly apt as it provides a platform for all stakeholders in the ministry to finalise their report of activities, programmes and projects for timely and immediate submission.
He said: “It’s our hope and expectation that this training will up-skill and enhance your capacity to qualitatively track, collect, collate, harmonise and report the activities, programmes and projects in your various departments and organisations.
“I implore you to be attentive to the presentations, learn, unlearn and relearn for a better and world-class education service delivery.”
