President Muhammadu Buhari, has technically taken all the glory for the latest release of 14 Students and staff of the Greenfield University, in Kaduna State, reiterating his government’s commitment to protecting lives and properties, assuring that kidnapping and other forms of crimes will be met with zero tolerance by the Security Agencies, .
The Presidency tweeted: “The President assures that @NigeriaGov will continue to work with State Governments to step up the protection of lives and property across the country, including educational institutions and other vulnerable targets.
“Kidnapping is a serious crime and a gross violation of the rights of fellow citizens; President Buhari assures that kidnapping and all other forms of criminality will continue to be met with zero tolerance by security agents.
“Once again, the President condoles with the families of the Students and staff that were killed by the abductors.”
While the President took glory for the release of the Students and staff, the parents of the Students have revealed that it was the payment of ransom by them alone, that secured the release of their loved ones, and not any effort of the Security Agencies nor the government.
In addition to providing 8 new motorcycles to the kidnappers before they agreed to release their children, the parents of the abducted Students admitted to paying a ransom of N180 million.
The parents and family members of the remaining kidnapped Students and workers of the University, said that they were forced to sell their properties, to raise the ransom.
The aggrieved parents blamed both the Federal and State Governments, as well as the Nigeria Police Force, NPF, for the alleged nonchalant attitude to secure the victims’ release.
They said that they had to sell their assets to secure the release of their children from the bandits, who had earlier vowed to kill them, if their demands were not met.
One of the freed staff members, Mrs. Bassey, thanked God that they were returned safely and reunited with their families.
She said: “I gave God all the glory that we returned safely. They tried to take care of us. We are eating normally.”
Another parent, Mr. Bassey Bassey expressed joy over the release of his daughter, and expressed disappointment that Nigerian children have no future with the attitude of governments.
He said: “After 40 days of trauma, trouble, confusion, disappointment that the future of Nigerian children were kidnapped, we are very happy that we see them again alive.
“But it is disappointing that both federal and state governments could not lift a finger to secure their release. No government showed any intention to help. It was parents that rallied round to ensure that the students were released.
“We paid a huge amount of money to secure their release. The people (bandits) collected a number of motorbikes which we had to give because our destiny was tied up.
“There was no effort, no fight by government or security agencies to get them freed. We suffered, and sold all our properties to rescue our children. No government, no security agencies that came to help us. It is shameful that those who did not contribute anything came out to take the glory.
“Now is not a time to take that decision of returning our children back to that school. The school authority tried well. We will take that decision later.”
Mr. Chukwuemeka Lawrence, a husband of one of the kidnapped workers, insisted that huge amounts were paid as ransom.
He stated: “We paid ransom before they were released. The kidnappers called us and told us that government is behind them; that the government knows what they are doing and that we should look for more money.
“We begged them but they refused to listen to our pleas. We sold houses. The total amount we paid was N150m. I cannot hide the truth. Government promised to protect us, but they are not doing so. How can my wife go to work for two days and I will be paying over N5m? I cannot hide the truth. That is what is killing us in this country.”
Also, in a viral video on Saturday, a parent who did not give his name said that N180 million was collected by the bandits as ransom.
His words: “N180m; that is what they collected from us parents, without the help of the government. None of the government officials came to our aid. Since the 20th of April they took these children, the government did not release a single policeman to go after them despite the dead bodies that have been brought. We say we have a government, I’m sorry we don’t have any government. We only have those that are selfish for themselves and not for the masses.”
