Zamfara insists no ransom was paid for release of 26 girls

The Zamfara state government has maintained its position that no ransom was paid to secure the release of 26 girls kidnapped from Faskari local government area of Katsina state.

Some residents said to be from Dan-Aji community in Faskari LGA of Katsina state, had countered the statement credited to the Zamfara government that no ransom was paid.

According to the residents, N6.6 million was paid to secure the release of the girls that were abducted from the village on October 13.

But speaking at a media briefing in Gusau, the Zamfara capital, on Tuesday, Zailani Bappa, special adviser on media to the governor, insisted that no ransom was paid.

“We wish to make it categorically clear that the release of the 26 girls was made possible through the peace initiative of the state government,” Bappa said.

“Right from the negotiation with the bandits who held the captives in Zamfara bushes to the time they were unconditionally released, the government of Zamfara felt it was saving the lives of Nigerians and not minding where they hailed from.”

According to NAN, some parents of the kidnap victims, who were at the media briefing, also refuted the claim that a ransom was paid.

“We do not even know the man who addressed the press in Katsina on Monday, claiming to be our village head and that we raised such a huge amount for the release of our children,” Abdulkarim Musa, a parent of one of the victims, was quoted as saying.

“We shall ever remain grateful to the Bello Matawalle-led administration in Zamfara for saving our children over whom we had even lost hope after they were kidnapped from our village, Dan-Aji in Katsina state.

“The gunmen killed people and burnt houses and properties when they invaded our village and took away the girls about 10 days ago, but thank God that they have all been saved now.’’