Don’t pay ransom if I’m kidnapped, says el-Rufai’s wife

Kaduna can’t confirm arrest of Greenfield students’ abductors
One of the three wives of Kaduna State Governor, Asia el-Rufai, has said that nobody should pay ransom for her release, if eventually abducted.

She made the remark in Kaduna yesterday while addressing participants of a peace and security training, organised for Kaduna women by Equal Access International (EAI).

Her words: “We must sacrifice to bring this to an end. I’m ready to die in the hands of kidnappers, if it will bring peace to this country. For as long as you pay ransom, you are giving bandits money for ammunition to continue to haunt you. We should not pay ransom. This is my personal opinion.”

The programme, according to EAI’s Country Director, Mr. Maji Peter, is aimed at securing Nigerian communities through creation of Civilian Security (CIVSEC), a body that will contribute and decide on issues that affect them and their communities.

MEANWHILE, the state government has debunked reports that the abductors of Greenfield University students have been arrested.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said yesterday that there was no official confirmation from security agencies in the state that abductors of the Greenfield students had been apprehended.

Aruwan’s clarification came amid speculations in the state that some of the students, who allegedly connived with the bandits, were caught with part of the money paid as ransom to the kidnappers.

The commissioner stated: “I have been inundated with calls, messages and emails to confirm if the bandits responsible for the kidnap of the Greenfield University students have been arrested.

“While it is our desire to see this happen by the grace of God, I cannot confirm the story making the rounds, and I have not received any information relating to this from security agencies.”