TheNewsGuru

Tag: Release

  • FG reacts to UN’s report of paying ‘huge ransom’ to secure Dapchi girls’ release

    The federal government on Friday reacted to a United Nations report that it paid ‘huge ransom’ to secure the Dapchi school girls release from Boko Haram’s captivity.

    The government however insisted that no money exchanged hands between the federal government and members of the terrorists group for the release of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls.

    Recall that a United Nations report had claimed that the Nigerian government paid a “huge sum” to secure the release of the girls earlier this year week after they were captured at their school dormitory.

    But in a statement issued in Illorin, Kwara State on Thursday, Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, insisted that government did not pay any ransom to Boko Haram to free the girls from captivity.

    Mohammed, in the statement signed by his media aide, Mr Segun Adeyemi, challenged anyone who has any evidence of payment to publish such.

    The Minister said, “It is not enough to say that Nigeria paid a ransom, little or huge. There must be a conclusive evidence to support such claim. Without that, the claim remains what it is: a mere conjecture.”

    Recall that in March 2018, Boko Haram released the girls its members kidnapped at the Government Girls Science and Technology College in Dapchi, Yobe State. However, it failed to release one of them, Leah Sharibu, allegedly because she did not renounce her Christian faith.

     

  • Falana writes new DSS boss, seeks immediate release of Dasuki, El Zakzaky, others

    Human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana (SAN), has written a letter to the acting Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Matthew Seiyefa to facilitate the release of of some Nigerians in custody of the service without trial and despite court orders for their unconditional release.

    Recall that Acting-President Yemi Osinbajo approved appointment of Seiyefa in acting capacity few hours after directing the former DG, Lawal Daura’s sack.

    The new DG upon appointment gave strong indications that he would not toe the inglorious path of his predecessor at a maiden press briefing last Thursday. Amongst the promises he made was an immediate review of all pending cases of illegal detention of persons, as well as the need to appoint a spokesperson for the department.

    He also vowed to significantly improve the agency’s image from its current infamy to an institution packed with professionals in law enforcement and protection of citizens against internal aggression.

    Falana, in an August 10 letter, reminded Seiyefa of his promises and urged him to start living up to them by ordering immediate release of some detained persons, some of whom are his clients.

    The senior lawyer’s letter is reproduced in full as follows:

    August 10, 2018

    Mathew Seiyefa Esq.,
    Acting Director-General,
    State Security Service,
    Maitama District,
    Abuja.

    Request for the urgent release of hundreds of persons detained illegally by the State Security Service

    We congratulate you on your appointment as the Acting Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS). While wishing you a successful tenure we urge you to restore the lost glory of the SSS by restricting the management and staff of the organisation to the prevention and detection of any crime against the internal security of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in accordance with the National Security Agencies Act.

    We are however compelled to draw your attention to the fact that our law firm has had a running battle for the last three years with Mr. Musa Daura, the immediate past Director-General of the SSS as a result of the incessant arrest and detention of Nigerian citizens and foreigners without trial. Some of the infringements of the human rights of criminal suspects and other persons perpetrated by Mr. Daura include the following:

    1. Apart from not obtaining orders from Magistrate Courts for the remand of suspects in line with section 293 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, Mr. Musa Daura treated the orders of several courts for the release of detainees with contempt. He became so power drunk that he harrassed judges and lawyers who challenged his penchant for subverting the rule of law. At a stage we had to remind him that the brutal military dictators who trained minions like him did not succeed in cowing us into submission when we were fighting for the restoration of democratic rule in the country.

    2. Unfortunately, the public officers who have a bounden duty under the Mohammadu Buhari administration to call Mr. Daura to order have turned themselves into the defenders of his pompous impunity by making nebulous references to “national security” or “public interest”. Hence, Mr. Daura has wilfully ignored the order of the federal high court made on December 2016 for their release of Sheik Ibraheem and Hajia Zeinab Elzakzaky from the illegal custody of the SSS.

    3. Even though Sheik Elzakzaky lost his right eye as a result of the injury sustained when he was shot by soldiers in Zaria on December 15, 2015, Mr. Daura rejected the recommendation of eye specialists that the detainee be flown abroad for medical treatment to prevent the loss of his left eye in the custody of the SSS. Mrs Elzakzaky who was also shot during the violent military attack has been denied access to medical experts who have offered to extract some bullets from her body. Thus, the SSS has subjected the couple to excruciating physical pain and mental agony in violation of their fundamental right to freedom from degrading treatment guaranteed by section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic, 1999 as amended.

    4. As you are no doubt aware, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), a former National Security Adviser is standing trial for treasonable felony and corruption before the Federal High Court and the Federal Capital Territory High Court respectively. Although the defendant has been admitted to bail by both trial courts the SSS has continued to detain him without any legal justification. As if that is not enough the order of the Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States directing the Federal Government to release Col. Dasuki on bail pending trial has also been treated with disdain by the SSS. Even though the defendant has not been charged with culpable homicide the defenders of Mr. Daura’s disobedience of court orders have belatedy turned round to accuse the defendant of being responsible for the death of over 100,000 people!

    5. However, we have just confirmed that hundreds of other criminal suspects are being detained in dehumaniding conditions in the several detention facilities of the SSS in Abuja and in all the states of the federation. From the information at our disposal the detention of majority of the suspects is not connected to national security in any material particular. For instance, our law firm has recently secured the release of two Indian nationals (Messrs Nittin Verma and Umesh Asudani) who were held in the detention centre of the SSS in Abuja for over 7 months on grounds that they had allegedly defrauded a Kano-based businessman. Before the suspects were illegally arrested by the SSS the same complaint was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which had admitted the suspects to administrative bail. As Mr. Daura could not defend the detention of the suspects he caused an official of the SSS to swear to a false affidavit in the Federal High Court to the effect that they were involved in terrorism!

    6. On account of corruption and abuse of office which characterised the tenure of Mr. Daura the SSS took over many criminal cases that were being investigated by other security and anti graft agencies. Thus, by compromising such criminal cases he exposed the anti corruption policy of the Buhari administration to ridicule. Indeed, a number of the suspects in the custody of the SSS have been held incommunicado for about 3 years in contravention of section 6 (2) (c) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which has imposed a duty on all detaining authorities in Nigeria to notify the next of kin or relative of every suspect of the arrest at no cost to the suspect. Two of the victims of such prolonged incarceration are Mr. Jones Abiri, a journalist and Mr. Peter Collins Opume, an undergraduate of the Niger Delta Delta University, Yenogoa, Bayelsa State. Both citizens have been detained in the SSS dungeon at Abuja for over two years without trial.

    7. Based on the instruction of the Committee to Protect Journalists, a Non-Governmental Organisation based in New York, United States, our law firm filed an application at the Federal High Court last month to secure the enforcement of Mr. Abiri’s fundamental right to personal liberty. As the SSS could not justify the prolonged detention of the journalist, Mr. Daura decided to rush him to a Magistrate Court in Wuse, Abuja where he and Mr. Opume were arraigned on a trump up charge of sending a text message to an official of an oil company on or about June 26, 2016. Although the trial Magistrate admitted both defendants to bail they have not been able to meet the conditions attached to the bail. Hence, they have been remanded in Keffi Prison pending trial. However, Mr. Abiri’s wife and children were opportuned to set their eyes on him in the prison custody today after two years of illegal separation caused by the SSS.

    In the light of the foregoing and in view of your commitment to review the cases of all detainees in the custody of the SSS we are compelled to request you to use your good offices to implement the following recommendations:

    i. Discontinue the frivolous charge pending against Messrs Jones Abiri and Peter Collins Opume at the Wuse Magistrate Court;

    ii. Release the hundreds of detainees that are languishing without trial in the various detention centres of the SSS;

    iii. Release Col. Dasuki and other criminal suspects who have been admitted to bail by municipal and regional courts;

    iv. Release Sheik Ibraheem Elzakzaky and Hajia Zeinab Elzakzaky from illegal custody in line with the orders of the Federal High Court.

    v. Respect the rights of suspects to consult legal practitioners of their choice before making, endorsing or writing any statement or answering any question put to them after arrest;

    vi. Draw the attention of all SSS investigators to the Anti-Torture Act of 2017 which has criminalized the use of torture in all security agencies;

    vii. Ensure that all detention facilities of the SSS are inspected monthly by the Visiting Judge of the Federal High Court in accordance with the provision of section 34 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act;

    viii. Stop the SSS from further usurping the powers of the Nigeria Police Force, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission with respect to the investigation of allegations of murder, stealing, fraud, money laundering, corruption and other economic and financial crimes which are not connected to national security;

    ix. Ban the operatives of the SSS from wearing masks as no military or paramilitary official is authorised by law to hide his/her identity in the course of performing official duties;

    x. Ensure that the SSS operates within the ambit of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and the National Security Agencies Act.

    Finally, having assured the Nigerian people of your commitment to ensure that the SSS respects the rights of all persons and operates under the rule of law we hope that you will take urgent steps to improve the image of the security outfit from its current infamy and lawlessness to an institution that is completely dedicated to the enforcement of security laws and the protection of citizens against all acts of internal aggression. However, we assure you of our unalloyed support if you are prepared to defend the security of the nation and protect the fundamental rights of the people of Nigeria in strict compliance with the provisions of chapter four of the Constitution.

    Yours Sincerely,

    Femi Falana SAN

     

  • Why we can’t release Dasuki – Presidency

    Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation (AGF), says the federal government cannot release Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser (NSA), because the allegation against him is a matter of public interest.

    The attorney-general said this in a Voice of America, Hausa, interview obtained by Premium Times.

    Malami said Dasuki’s right is not important more than over 100,000 people he was “instrumental to their death”.

    He said the mismanagement of funds meant for the military under the former NSA led to the deaths of many.

    Malami maintained that the issue affects an entire nation; so the discussion should not be about a single person’s rights.

    On Tuesday, the federal high court in Abuja served a warrant of release of Dasuki on the director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice.

    Malami said the government could resort to appealing the court order if it wants to.

    “What I want you to know is that issues concerning law and order under Muhammadu Buhari are sacrosanct and obeying court order is compulsory,” he said.

    “However you should also know that there is a general consensus world over that where the dispute is only between individuals, then you can consider the issue based on the instant situation. But if the dispute is about an issue that affects an entire nation, then you have to remember that government is about the people not for only an individual.

    “So, you have to look at it from this perspective. If the issue about an individual coincides with that which affects the people of a nation and you are now saying the government did not obey a court order that infringes on a single person’s rights. Remember we are talking about a person who was instrumental to the deaths of over 100,000 people. Are you saying that the right of one person is more important than that of 100,000 who lost their lives?

    “Reports have shown that there was massive mismanagement of funds meant for military hardware which the military could not access and that led to the death of many, embezzlement of the fund and because of that many people have lost their lives. Obeying the court is not the issue per say.

    “Are we going to take the issue of an individual more important than that of the people? The government’s main responsibility is for and about the people. The essence of governance is to better the lives of its people. So you have to weigh it based on that; the rights of an individual or the rights of the people.”

    DSS operatives arrested Dasuki in 2015 for “illegal possession of firearms” and diversion $2.1 billion from his office while he held sway as the NSA.

  • Trump confirms release of detained American in Venezuela

    U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Venezuela has released American Joshua Holt after nearly two years in jail in the leftist-ruled country.

    Trump, in a tweet, did not identify Holt by name but Utah Senator Orrin Hatch confirmed that the Utah resident had been freed.

    “Good news about the release of the American hostage from Venezuela,” Trump tweeted. “Should be landing in D.C. this evening and be in the White House, with his family, at about 7:00 P.M. The great people of Utah will be very happy!”

    Holt’s release came after Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met in Caracas Friday with President Nicolas Maduro.

    Senator Hatch said Holt was on his way to the United States and praised Corker’s “pivotal efforts.”

    Holt, a Mormon, was being held at a prison in Caracas known as the Helicoide where political prisoners are held by the Venezuelan intelligence service Sebin.

    He was arrested shortly after arriving in Venezuela nearly two years ago.

    He surfaced in a video calling on the US government to help get him out during a prison protest earlier this month by jailed opposition activists.

    On Friday, the government released 20 jailed activists held in the western state of Zulia amid moves by Maduro to ease domestic tensions.

    Maduro was re-elected to a six-year term in controversial elections May 20 that were boycotted by most opposition parties and rejected as illegitimate by the United States and other countries.

     

  • How we negotiated release of Dapchi schoolgirls from Boko Haram’s captivity – DSS

    The Director General of Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura on Friday narrated how the Service negotiated and secured the release of 105 out of the 111 girls abducted from a secondary school in Dapchi, Yobe State on February 19.

    Daura, who spoke when President Muhammadu Buhari received the released girls at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja also disclosed that six of the abducted girls were yet to be accounted for.

    According to him, two pupils of Dapchi primary school were also released with the 105 secondary school girls on Wednesday.

    Daura, who formally presented the released girls to President Buhari, said: “I wish to inform Mr. President that I05 out of 111 female students abducted from the Government Girls’ Science Technical College, Dapchi on 19 February, 2018 were released two days ago, following painstaking backchannel dialogue with their abductors.

    “However, before you today, Mr. President, are two additional young primary school pupils, namely Hafsat Haruna, an 11-year-old primary six pupil, and Mala Maina Bukar, 13 years old and also a primary six pupil.

    “The remaining six Dapchi girls are yet to be accounted for, and dialogue on these students is still ongoing.”

    Recalling the negotiation process that led to their release, he said: “It may be recalled that the President had given a clear directive to security agencies to use peaceful options to ensure the timely and safe release of the girls.

    “What followed were intense behind-the-scene dialogue spearheaded by the Department of State Services.

    “The insurgents’ only condition was their demands for cessation of hostilities and temporary ceasefire to enable them return the girls at the point they picked them.

    “They required assurances that the government security forces would keep to this.

    “The exercise was arduous and quite challenging. The sensitivity of the operation and some uncertainties surrounding it, particularly the routes to be used, nature of transportation, realization and concern that the girls were not kept at one place, issues of encountering military checkpoints within the theater and indeed keeping the operation on strictly the “principles of need-to-know” made the whole exercise more complicating.

    “Beyond the release of the abducted girls, our primary interest for engaging in the dialogue was informed by the following: permanent possible cessation of hostilities, discussing the fate of the arrested insurgents and innocent Nigerian citizens being held hostage, and possibility of granting amnesty to repentant insurgents.

    “These presently seem problematic because the insurgents are factionalised while holding various spheres of influence in their guerrilla controlled enclaves.

    “The negative impact of social media on otherwise classified operations and, of course, some of the utterances of the government functionaries who were not competent to comment on the issues, posed challenges that almost marred the rescue efforts.”

    Despite the challenges, he said, the Service managed to successfully conclude the operation leading to the release of the schoolgirls.

    On the state of the girls and medical care, he said: “On release, the victims were taken into the DSS medical facility and are put through programmes to give them mental stability.

    “As such, they are given psychological mental evaluation conducted by trained specialists.

    “About four of them were discovered to have broken limbs and were sent for X-ray.

    “Almost all of them had one skin infection or the other, having not taken bath for over a month.

    “They have been medically examined and those with ailments were treated.

    “The measures are to ensure that they are in good health.”

    Speaking on the family access to the girls, he said: “The girls, including four representatives of their school as well as their parents were brought into the medical facility as part of measures to relieve tension and anxiety.

    “The presence of these representatives have further re-assured and stabilised the girls.”

    Suggesting the way forward, Daura said: “Mr. President, in view of the nation’s experience through these years of insurgency, it is humbly suggested that efforts be sustained towards:

    1. Ensuring the release of all abducted persons in the North East Theatre of Operation
    2. Improve the strategic plan for the safety of schools in vulnerable locations, using all available national assets.

    iii. Improve on the coordination efforts amongst security agencies to avoid future incidents.

    1. Expand the current dialogue towards conflict mitigation and resolution, with a view to getting an everlasting peace for the entire sub-region.”

    He said that the feat so far recorded in the release of the victims was a clear example of collaboration among security agencies.

    He said: “First, let me express our profound appreciation to Mr. President for his direction and maximum support throughout the process of this dialogue.

    “Also, I wish to acknowledge the contributions and sacrifices of the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Police, our friendly neighbours and international partners who have played key roles in our determination to rid our beloved country of the menace of terrorism.”

  • Atiku hails release of #DapchiGirls

    Former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has welcomed the release of some of the schoolgirls freed by Boko Haram on Wednesday morning four weeks after they were kidnapped from their school in Dapchi, Yobe State.

    In a press statement released by his media office in Abuja on Wednesday, Atiku said he was gladdened by the return of the girls and expressed joy that some families who had been heartbroken will now have the tears wiped from their faces, as will other Nigerians who were distressed by the kidnappings.

    “This is a moment of joy for all of us as a nation,” he said. “We may not all be in Dapchi at the moment but we are all celebrating with the families, the community and the entire Yobe State.”

    Atiku, however, noted that the grief of the parents whose daughters weren’t returned would probably take on a new and more tormenting dimension, as they continue to wait and pray for their safe return.

    “May God continue to strengthen and give them hope,” he said.

    According to the statement, the former Vice President believes that while the events of today are fresh in our heads, a call for a more permanent solution to the problem of kidnapping of girls from schools should be found.

    He proposed several ideas including the immediate reassignment of 150,000 Nigerian police personnel to secure schools in volatile areas of the northeast. In addition, the government should look at redesigning schools to make them more secure from attack including the addition of safe rooms.

    “We cannot continue to allow our daughters to be used as instruments of negotiation, subject to capture and release at the whim of any group,” he said.

    “For the sake of our youth who embody the best of our tomorrow, we must confront this Frankenstein monster. Working together as a Nation we can and must bring an end to this. Not a day must be wasted in finding solutions. We must make it safe so our girls and women in every part of the country can study and flourish in peace”.

  • DSS not military negotiated release of Dapchi schoolgirls – DHQ

    The Defence Headquarters has said the military were not involved in the negotiations leading to the release of 104 out of the 110 girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in Dapchi, Yobe state.

    The Acting Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen John Agim said in a text message that the Department of State Services, (DSS) , led the negotiations for the release of the girls.

    Following series of enquiries from the Defence Headquarters on the role of the Military regarding the release of the girls in the early hours of Wednesday, Brig. Gen Agim responded via a text message saying “the girls were released through negotiations led by the Department of State Services (DSS)”

    Recall that the girls were abducted in their hostels at Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State by the Boko Haram insurgents on Monday 19, February 2018. They were however released on Wednesday (yesterday) following mass appeals and negotiations nationally and internationally.

     

  • Dapchi schoolgirls: Buhari staged abduction, release to score cheap political points – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday accused President Muhammadu Buhari of staging the abduction and eventual release of the 110 girls from their hostels at the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State.

    The girls were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents on Monday 19, February 2018. They were however released on Wednesday (today) following mass appeals and negotiations nationally and internationally.

    The PDP stated this in a special press conference it held on the return of the girls earlier in the day.

    Read full statements below:

    Text of Press Conference of the Peoples Democratic Party, on the Return of the Abducted Dapchi School Girls Presented by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, Today, March 21, 2018.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemns the All Progressives Congress (APC) and certain officials in the Presidency for staging the abduction of the schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe State, for political purposes.

    Our Party considers this act as wicked, callous and tormenting to use innocent schoolgirls as pawns in an ignoble script that was designed to hoodwink Nigerians and orchestrate a great rescue and security prowess of a conquering general, all to push a 2019 reelection bid, is an unpardonable gamble with human lives.

    While this failed Dapchi drama remains a poorly crafted tragicomedy: a scam of no equal dimension, Nigerians are not ready to forgive the APC and the Presidency for the torments inflicted on the girls, their parents and the human community worldwide just to score a cheap political point.

    Nigerians know that the main aim of this devilish act was to delude the public, set the stage for an orchestrated rescue, create a heroic myth and false sense of achievement around the APC administration and serve as a spur for President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration to contest the 2019 presidential election, perhaps in the coming weeks.

    As a political party, we want to further state unequivocally that by all ramifications, this is a war crime against humanity and gross violation of human rights on the part of the APC administration, all in the bid to push a selfish and ill-lucked 2019 ambition.

    There is no evidence that the Boko Haram insurgents or any militant group abducted the schoolgirls in the first place. Rather, what is evident to all is the high level official manipulation of security movements in Dapchi both in the staged abduction and the returning of the traumatized schoolgirls.

    It is instructive to note that till date, no report has been presented by the National Security Adviser (NSA), who has been charged by President Muhammadu Buhari with investigation of the abduction. This is in addition to deliberate efforts by the government to suppress free flow of information around the abduction.

    Even the regular Nigerian on the street has examined the events leading to this abduction of our daughters as well as their release and can deduce the obvious.

    Nigerians are all aware that both the abduction and return of the schoolgirls were dramatically preceded by questionable withdrawal of troops and all security apparatus at checkpoints and flashpoints in the Dapchi area.

    They are also aware that the Buhari Presidency, as the principal command center of military operations, has refused to come out clear on the compromising of security and why no arrest has so far been affected in the entire saga, thus betraying a high-level of government conspiracy against the citizens for political reasons.

    The PDP therefore calls on the United Nations (UN) and the International Criminal Court to declare this evil by the APC Federal Government a war crime against humanity and immediately commence investigation on the matter. We demand the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in this saga.

    In the same vein, we join Nigerians to demand for the setting up of a UN monitored Truth Commission to unravel the facts around the Dapchi event as well as the abduction of Schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State in 2014.

    While we commiserate with the families of our loved daughters and rejoice with those whose daughters were brought home safely, we urge Nigerians to be alert and continue to monitor the activities of the APC as we approach the 2019 general election since it is now clear that this government will stop at nothing in its desperate bid to perpetuate itself in power against the will of the people.

  • 10 things you should know about abduction, release of Dapchi schoolgirls

    The Boko Haram insurgents on Monday, February 19 abducted 110 girls from their hostels at the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State.

    The abduction of the girls fueled national and international outrage with several interest groups calling for their immediate release.

    However, the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government in series of meetings with the parents of the abducted girls assured them (the parents) of the girls’ safe return home.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the President last week visited the state to sympathize with the parents and other concerned residents about three weeks after the abduction took place.

    The insurgents on Wednesday, March 21 released the abducted girls.

    Below are some of the timelines of activities from the day of abduction to day of release.

    1. The girls were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in their hostels at the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State on Monday, February 19, 2018.
    2. The total abducted girls are 110 in number.
    3. President Muhammadu Buhari sent representatives to Yobe for an on-the-spot assessment of the abduction.
    4. The insurgents contacted a trusted female negotiator, Aisha Wakil popularly called Mama Boko Haram to negotiate talks between them and the Federal Government on the possible release of the girls.
    5. Senate summons security chiefs over abduction.
    6. President Muhammadu Buhari heeds calls to visit Yobe.
    7. Federal Government considers negotiating with Boko Haram for the release of the girls.
    8. The United States Government, through the then Secretary of States, Rex Tillerson promised to deploy ‘Special Forces’ to help Nigeria secure release of the girls from Boko Haram
    9. Amnesty International indicts Nigerian security forces over abduction.
    10. Boko Haram insurgents releases abducted girls as some are feared dead.

  • We didn’t pay ransome to secure release of Lagos school boys – Akeredolu

    We didn’t pay ransome to secure release of Lagos school boys – Akeredolu

    …Says we’ll make the abductors give up their arms

    Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of Ondo State said on Sunday that his government did not pay a dime to the abductors of the Lagos school boys before securing their release.

    The governor also said he would work to ensure that the abductors dropped their arms.

    He also confirmed that he promised the kidnappers of inclusion in the Federal Government amnesty programme.

    The governor spoke in an interview on an Ibadan-based radio, Fresh FM at the weekend.

    Akeredolu explained that as soon as the Federal Government hinted him that the children were hidden somewhere in the creeks of Ondo State, he assigned his deputy, who hailed from a riverine area of the state, to find means of opening discussions with the abductors.

    On successfully establishing contact with them after risking his life, the governor recalled that he joined in the discussion to know the motive of the abductors.

    According to him, the militants complained that they were excluded in the amnesty programme launched for all militants in the Niger Delta.

    Akeredolu said he promised them that he would intimate the Federal Government of the need to include them in the programme. He said the government did not pay ransom to secure their release.

    The governor said he, however, made them realise the danger of criminality.

    He said the militants expressed trust in his administration to right the wrongs of the past.

    “My deputy did a yeoman’s job and started a discussion with the abductors. We made them realise that they may have their problem with the government but we told them that we will report that to the Federal Government. People repose a lot of trust in our government. They have implicit trust in us. The young boys (kidnappers) have trust in us. We promised them we would persuade the Federal Government to include them in the amnesty programme. We did not pay any ransom. We will work with the Federal Government to make them surrender their arms,” Akeredolu said.

    Akeredolu also acknowledged that there is division in the All Progressives Congress (APC), pointing out that the party is so big that all members can not always agree. He stressed that it is part of the beauty of democracy.

    He also denied working as one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s boys in Southwest, saying he is not a boy to anybody.