Monday, July 7, 2025
  • Who’sWho Africa AWARDS
  • About Time Africa Magazine
  • Contact Us
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
  • Home
  • Magazine
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • World News
    • US
    • UAE
    • Europe
    • UK
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Russia-Ukraine
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • Column
  • Interviews
  • Special Report
No Result
View All Result
Time Africa Magazine
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
  • News
  • Magazine
  • World News

Home » News » Bola Tinubu: Nigeria won’t pay a ransom to Kaduna kidnappers

Bola Tinubu: Nigeria won’t pay a ransom to Kaduna kidnappers

March 14, 2024
in News
0
540
SHARES
4.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said “not a dime” will be paid to kidnappers to release over 280 schoolchildren abducted last week.

The kidnappers, who contacted the families, are demanding a ransom of 1bn naira ($600,000; £470,000).

They have threatened to kill the captives if the demand is not met.

A local chief has told the BBC about the harrowing conditions the children, aged between seven and 12, are experiencing in captivity.

Jibril Gwadabe Kuriga said the kidnappers had called him to make the demand for the release of the children kidnapped on 7 March, using the phone of the school principal who was seized along with his pupils from the small town of Kuriga in the north-western Kaduna state.

He also spoke to the principal, who told him some of the children were in a “critical condition” and “could not even stand up”.

“They are just lying down. So we don’t know – maybe some of them are dead,” he said of the children, who he said had walked for hundreds of kilometres to the kidnappers’ base with very little food or water.

Mr Gwadabe said the families were very poor and could not afford to pay the ransom. “Many of them cannot – even three square meals is impossible in some of their houses,” he told the BBC’s Newsday programme.

He said the families were feeling “terrible”, and mentioned a woman who had had four children abducted and was unable to eat or sleep.

On Wednesday, Mr Tinubu directed security forces to ensure the children are released without any payment, the country’s Information Minister Mohammed Idris told reporters.

ReadAlso

Ngozi George Honoured for Using Diplomacy to Champion Orphans’ Welfare

Elon Musk sets up new political party in wake of falling-out with Trump

“The government is not paying anybody any dime and the government is optimistic that these children and other people… will be brought back to their families in safety,” he said.

Kaduna state governor Uba Sani said they were “doing everything possible to ensure the safe return of the pupils and students.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Payment of ransom was made illegal in 2022 in Nigeria.

In the past, some hostages have been released following negotiations with the authorities, but officials always deny ransom payments are made.

Often family and friends source the money, with some fundraising or selling their properties. At times politicians have been involved, especially in high-profile cases.

For years, the gunmen who are locally known as bandits, have targeted villagers, motorists on highways and students in schools, hoping to get ransom payments in exchange for their release.

In the last three years hundreds of students have been abducted.

This latest wave of kidnappings presents a major challenge to Mr Tinubu’s government, which had promised to tackle insecurity after he came to power last year.

By Basillioh Rukanga| BBC |

ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Leave Anambra State Govt. Out Of Your N4b Fraud — EFCC Tells Obiano

Next Post

“I am afraid” – Ex-Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh predicts possible tipping point for Super Eagles despite impressive AFCON outing

You MayAlso Like

News

Ngozi George Honoured for Using Diplomacy to Champion Orphans’ Welfare

July 6, 2025
News

President Tinubu Arrives In Rio De Janeiro For BRICS Meeting

July 5, 2025
News

British tourist among two women killed by elephant in Zambian national park 

July 5, 2025
News

South Africa’s Former Deputy President, Dies at 64

July 4, 2025
News

Spiritual Leader Warns: ‘Unburied Corpses Fueling Insecurity in Igbo Land’

July 4, 2025
Bengt Geijerstam / Photodisc via Getty Images
News

Why Igbos Must Stop Storing Corpses in Mortuaries — Ogilisi Igbo Speaks Out

July 4, 2025
Next Post

“I am afraid” – Ex-Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh predicts possible tipping point for Super Eagles despite impressive AFCON outing

Alleged N3.5bn Paris Club Fraud: Supreme Court Delivers Judgment June 7

Discussion about this post

Why Igbos Must Stop Storing Corpses in Mortuaries — Ogilisi Igbo Speaks Out

Almost 400 human corpses found piled high in mysterious house of horrors

Senator Natasha: Nigeria’s Senate President Akpabio Brought To Heel By Legal Checks

OPINION |  Senate Rebels Against Court in Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Case: A Constitutional Timebomb

Will Senate President Akpabio Comply with the Court Order and Reinstate Akpoti-Uduaghan?

Tinubu’s end game on Fubara

  • British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

    1238 shares
    Share 495 Tweet 310
  • Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

    1064 shares
    Share 426 Tweet 266
  • Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

    967 shares
    Share 387 Tweet 242
  • ‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

    902 shares
    Share 360 Tweet 225
  • Crisis echoes, fears grow in Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu State

    735 shares
    Share 294 Tweet 184
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

British government apologizes to Peter Obi, as hired impostors, master manipulators on rampage abroad

April 13, 2023

Maids trafficked and sold to wealthy Saudis on black market

December 27, 2022
Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

Flight Attendant Sees Late Husband On Plane

September 22, 2023
‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

‘Céline Dion Dead 2023’: Singer killed By Internet Death Hoax

March 21, 2023
Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu, wife of Willie Obiano, former governor of Anambra state

NIGERIA: No, wife of Biafran warlord, Bianca Ojukwu lied – Ebele Obiano:

0

SOUTH AFRICA: TO LEAVE OR NOT TO LEAVE?

0
kelechi iheanacho

TOP SCORER: IHEANACHA

0
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

WHAT CAN’TBE TAKEN AWAY FROM JONATHAN

0

Ngozi George Honoured for Using Diplomacy to Champion Orphans’ Welfare

July 6, 2025

Elon Musk sets up new political party in wake of falling-out with Trump

July 6, 2025

OPINION |  Senate Rebels Against Court in Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Case: A Constitutional Timebomb

July 5, 2025

Diogo Jota’s distraught family joined by footballing stars for heart-wrenching funeral days after car crash

July 5, 2025

ABOUT US

Time Africa Magazine

TIME AFRICA MAGAZINE is an African Magazine with a culture of excellence; a magazine without peer. Nearly a third of its readers hold advanced degrees and include novelists, … READ MORE >>

SECTIONS

  • Aviation
  • Column
  • Crime
  • Europe
  • Featured
  • Gallery
  • Health
  • Interviews
  • Israel-Hamas
  • Lifestyle
  • Magazine
  • Middle-East
  • News
  • Politics
  • Press Release
  • Russia-Ukraine
  • Science
  • Special Report
  • Sports
  • TV/Radio
  • UAE
  • UK
  • US
  • World News

Useful Links

  • AllAfrica
  • Channel Africa
  • El Khabar
  • The Guardian
  • Cairo Live
  • Le Republicain
  • Magazine: 9771144975608
  • Subscribe to TIME AFRICA biweekly news magazine

    Enjoy handpicked stories from around African continent,
    delivered anywhere in the world

    Subscribe

    • About Time Africa Magazine
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS

    © 2025 Time Africa Magazine - All Right Reserved. Time Africa is a trademark of Times Associates, registered in the U.S, & Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    No Result
    View All Result
    • WHO’SWHO AWARDS
    • Politics
    • Column
    • Interviews
    • Gallery
    • Lifestyle
    • Special Report
    • Sports
    • TV/Radio
    • Aviation
    • Health
    • Science
    • World News

    © 2025 Time Africa Magazine - All Right Reserved. Time Africa is a trademark of Times Associates, registered in the U.S, & Nigeria. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.