No Ransom Was Paid For The Release Of Kidnapped Journalists - FG

The Federal government has said that no ransom was paid to release the abducted Kaduna-based journalists, AbdulGafar Alabelewe of The Nation Newspaper and AbdulRaheem Audu of Blueprint Newspaper.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris said their release showed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to combating insecurity.

A statement on Sunday by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Rabiu Ibrahim, said the two journalists were released along with Mr Alabelewe’s wife and two children.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has welcomed the release of two Kaduna-based journalists who were abducted from their homes on the outskirts of Kaduna last weekend.

Idris advised Nigerians to keep faith with President Tinubu administration. He said all victims of kidnap would be rescued without payment of ransom.

Idris said, “We are most grateful for what the NSA and our security agencies have done. We are aware that this is part of your ongoing effort to ensure that all kidnapped victims are rescued alive and reunited with their families.

“I want to urge Nigerians to keep faith with the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and our security agencies. The security agencies under the coordination of the NSA are working tirelessly to ensure that all those who have been taken into unlawful custody are freed without paying any ransom.”

Also, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, said “the five victims were rescued following a combined effort of security agencies which led to a swift search-and-rescue operation.”

Ribadu said security agencies are working to ensure kidnapping and banditry become a thing of the past. He said security agencies are committed to addressing insecurity across the nation.

The Nation reporter, Mr Alabelewe said he and other victims were grateful to the federal government for swift intervention.

“The rescue mission which brought us out of the bush yesterday (Saturday) gave us hope in our country and gave us confidence to believe that the government is serious about tackling this problem of kidnapping. I never thought that within a week of our kidnap we could get out.

“We are grateful that the government swung into action and ensured that we were released,” Ibrahim quoted.