Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu has explained how repentant bandits played a role in securing the release of over 300 schoolboys abducted from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina.

Shehu who disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily said although no ransom was paid, there were negotiations with the abductors.

“All of the leading actors involved in the release of the children said no ransom was paid.

“The governor of Zamfara State, who had a policy of engagement with the bandits leading to the surrender and renouncement of bandits, used repentant bandits to gain access to those that were in the forest and they had them (schoolboys) released. All the leading actors in Zamfara and Katsina state said no ransom was paid,” he said.

The presidential spokesperson added that the rescue operation involved joint efforts of security agencies including the Nigerian Army, police among others who all acted promptly.

He revealed that there were negotiations with the abductors after the troops of the Nigerian Army encircled the Zamfara forest where the hostages were held.

“The security services, the Army, police, intelligence agencies showed good judgement and capacity by promptly responding to the kidnap of those students and then locating exactly where they were being held.

“Having done that, they quickly mobilised and surrounded the entire place to ensure that they do not go out and they do not come in. So, whatever followed after that is to reap from the gain which has been done.

“The military identified where they were less than 24 hours after the kidnap and waited for the process of the negotiation and at the end of it, everyone is happy that it ended the way it did,” he said.

-Missing Schoolboys Found-

Over 300 students were abducted on Friday, December 11 after gunmen on motorcycles invaded Government Science School students in Kankara, Katsina State.

The abduction of the students sparked an outrage with calls from various individuals and groups on the government to step up efforts towards securing the lives of the people.

It occurred at a time when President Muhammadu Buhari had travelled to Daura, his hometown in Katsina for a private visit.

The boys were eventually released and received by the Katsina State government after seven days in captivity.

Source: Channels TV

Officials, members of the Coalition of Northern Group, security experts as well as other participants on Monday, narrowly escaped death as thugs invaded the venue of the security summit in Kaduna State.

The security summit organized by the CNG was starting at the Arewa House Auditorium, Kaduna the state capital when the armed thugs in their hundreds invaded the place.

The Summit aimed to discuss ways to achieve synergy between communities and government security and design a uniform approach to the current security situation in the North.

Participants at the meeting included retired military officers, retired police officers, religious leaders, traditional rulers, various women, youth, and trade associations.

The meeting was coming on the heels of the abduction of students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara in Katsina State and other communities in the north.

It was gathered that as the meeting kicked off, the thugs armed with dangerous weapons stormed the auditorium and unleashed terror on participants and guests at the meeting.

In what is becoming a trend, the former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Taskforce Team, Abulrasheed Maina, currently facing money laundering charges, Thursday, collapsed before trial Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja

Maina slumped shortly after the court resumed proceedings in the 12-count charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him and his firm, Common Input Property and Investment Limited.

Maina had on Wednesday secured permission of the court to enter a no-case-submission to the charges against him after the EFCC closed its case with nine witnesses,

Maina’s lawyer, Mr. Anayo Adibe however, told the court when the case was called on Thursday,that his client would not be able to proceed with his application.

Abide said he was unable to prepare the no-case-submission owing to the fact that he was not availed with records of proceedings of the court in the matter.

The defence lawyer was about to make further submission when his client, Maina, slumped beside the dock where the court permitted him to sit.

Some lawyers and officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service quickly rushed to his aid, a development that forced trial Justice Abang to suspend sitting.

The Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Police has warned any persons or group of persons planning to stage any form of protest in the state to desist from such action or face the full wrath of the law.

The command spokesperson, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, gave the warning in a statement he made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the State capital

Oyeyemi said, “It has come to the knowledge of Ogun state Police Command that some misguided individuals are planning to stage a violent protest tagged “ENDSARS Phase II” today, 7th of December 2020 in Ogun State”.

“While the command recognizes that it is the right of citizens to employ protest to express their grievances over issues of governance,  there is however nothing at present that calls for such protest in the gateway state, except for those who see troublemaking as a lucrative business”.

He added that “No reasonable person after the massive destruction of properties and loss of lives occasioned by the recent #EndSARS protest would again be contemplating another violent protest so soon. It is the most callous thing to conceive and do”.

“In Ogun state, we have, since the end of #EndSARS protest been enjoying well-deserved peace. Socio-economic activities have resumed fully”.

“Schools have also resumed,  and the children, in particular, can be seen happily resuming and closing from schools”.

“Only an enemy of the people, therefore, would wish to re-enact the #EndSARS mayhem”, he said.

The Ogun State command Image maker noted that “contemplating the second #EndSARS stand logic on its head as the SARS for which reason the unprecedented violence was perpetrated in the country, has since been banned”.

“SARS is now history! It is mischievous therefore for anybody to protest against a non-existent outfit or any issue”.