Jaafar Jaafar, the Nigerian journalist who published a controversial video clip showing former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje receiving $5 million bribe in October 2018 has alleged that the Nigerian government paid through the nose to secure the release of abducted Kaduna pupils.
Jaafar in a post via his X handle on Sunday stated that no lobbying, persuasion, flattery, charm or conning could have convinced the bandits to release the abducted persons without the payment of ransom.
On Saturday night, Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani announced the release of 137 Kuriga schoolchildren who were kidnapped by bandits to the media.
The abductors had demanded N1 billion as ransom being the only condition for their release but the terms of this release remains shrouded.
But Jaafar claimed that President Bola Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani’s choice of words after the “rescue” of the Kuriga schoolchildren, suggested that the government paid through the nose.
“The reality is that no lobbying, persuasion, flattery, charm or conning will convince the ruthlessly avaricious bandits to release hostages without payment of ransom.
“From President Tinubu to Governor Uba Sani’s choice of words after the ‘rescue’ of the Kuriga schoolchildren, you know the government paid through the nose to simply rescue its image, held hostage by the worsening insecurity.
“Our leaders hardly bother taking proactive measures to stop these abductions. In hindsight, the money the government paid the bandits should have been used to resettle villages that were prone to attack.
“Government is more concerned about its image than the security of lives and property. Whenever you see a government in turbo action, its political image is concerned,” Jaafar said.
