President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed overwhelming joy over the release of abducted schoolgirls in Zamfara State.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled “President Buhari celebrates the release of abducted Zamfara female students, calls for greater vigilance.”
According to the statement, Buhari said, “I join the families and people of Zamfara State in welcoming and celebrating the release of these traumatized female students.”
African News Today had reported the kidnap of the schoolgirls on Friday by gunmen who stormed their school disguised as soldiers.
Their release was announced by Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State.
Announcing their release, Matawalle on his official Twitter handle wrote, “Alhamdulillah! It gladdens my heart to announce the release of the abducted students of GGSS Jangebe from captivity. This follows the scaling of several hurdles laid against our efforts. I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to rejoice with us as our daughters are now safe.”
President Buhari in his reaction expressed excitement that the victims’ ordeal came to a happy end without any incident.
He further stated that “being held in captivity is an agonising experience not only for the victims but also their families and all of us.”
He equally urged greater vigilance by the people so that human intelligence could be collected early enough to nip the bandits’ plans in the bud.
The President said that the time has come to reverse, completely, the grim and heartbreaking incidents of kidnapping.
The President was also said to have kicked against payment of ransom, saying “Ransom payments will continue to prosper kidnapping.”
He called on the Police and the Military to immediately hunt the kidnappers and bring them to justice.