Governor Matawalle reveals how he secured Jangebe students' release, says no ransom paid
- Governor Matawalle has spoken on how the abducted Jangebe schoolgirls regained their freedom
- The Zamfara state governor said his administration did not pay any ransom to the kidnappers
- According to him, repentant bandits were used to engaging the abductors and secure the students' release
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The governor of Zamfara state, Bello Matawalle, has revealed how the hundreds of students kidnapped from the Government Secondary School, Jangebe, were released.
Contrary to the insinuations in some quarters, Governor Matawalle said no ransom was paid to secure the release of the students.
He stated this on Wednesday evening, March 3, during an interview on Channels Television.
Source: Twitter
Governor Matawalle said he secured the release of the students through the repentant bandits in the state.
He explained that the repentant bandits were used to engage with the kidnappers of the schoolgirls and eventually secure their release.
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The Zamfara state governor noted that there are some bandits in the state who rejected his peace accord.
He, however, said there are those who have repented and are working with the security agencies to make sure that the state is safe.
Governor Matwalle’s remarks come a week after some armed bandits stormed the Jangebe school and abducted the schoolgirls.
After spending about four days in the den of the bandits, the students were eventually released on Tuesday, March 2.
Nigerians react
Peter Ijai Emmanuel said on Facebook:
"It's possible no ransom was paid. The Negotiator will get amnesty eventually. May God Almighty save Nigeria."
Desmond Ikechukwu Okorie said:
"We keep hearing no ransom was paid and yet not a single one of the so called bandit is ever arrested in all the rescue missions. Not even a picture or the location of where the girls are rescued from are shown on the TV. This was supposed to a group of bandits and yet none of the bandits is arrested. This looks like a well scripted movie"
Andrea Franks said:
"And you want Nigerians to believe. We have lost confidence in this Government. God listen to the cry of your children for mercy."
Joshua Brainy said:
"No ransom paid ??? Really !!what was their actual motive for kidnapping them ? Maybe to play with them and release them after"
Japheth John Joko said:
"If ransom was not paid ,why the kidnapping in the first place??? Why??"
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Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Governor Matawalle said he is willing to resign if such action will bring a lasting solution to the high level of insecurity in his state.
Governor Matawalle said he is ready to accept any solution that will bring peace to his state, adding that he is not intimidated by the federal government’s declaration of a ‘No-Fly Zone’ in Zamfara.
In a related development, the Zamfara state governor has said the security man of the Jangebe school was involved in the abduction of the schoolgirls on Friday, February 26.
The governor said information at his disposal indicated that the school’s security guard aided the bandits in whisking the students away.
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Nurudeen Lawal is a Legit.ng journalist passionate about fact-checking/verification journalism. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature-in-English from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. As Politics Editor, Nurudeen mostly writes on Nigeria’s political and socio-economic developments. He has attended different workshops, conferences and training on fact-checking and digital reporting, among others. Learn more about him on Twitter, @Nurudeen Lawal_
Source: Legit.ng
