Lawal Dogara, village head of Dan-Aji community in Faskari
local government area of Katsina state, says N6.6 million was paid to secure
the release of the 26 girls that were abducted from the village on October 13.
Dogara was reacting to the claim made by the Zamfara state
government that it secured the release of the victims through negotiation and
that no ransom was paid.
The girls were said to have been picked randomly from
different houses in the community and were rescued from a forest in Zamfara
state.
Zailani Bappa, special adviser to the governor on public
enlightenment, media and communication, had said the girls were released on
November 6 after negotiations with the armed bandits.
“I interacted with 26
rescued girls after medical professionals have ascertained their physical and
mental fitness following days of trauma suffered in kidnappers den,” Bello
Matawalle, governor of Zamfara, had also tweeted.
“The young girls kidnapped from Katsina State were rescued
on 6/11/2020 as a result of our intervention.”
Today, I interracted with 26 rescued girls after medical professionals have ascertained their physical and mental fitness following days of trauma suffered in kidnappers den. The young girls kidnapped from Katsina State were rescued on 6/11/2020 as a result of our intervention. pic.twitter.com/cNC22dyWN8
— Dr. Bello Matawalle (@Bellomatawalle1) November 8, 2020
we're managing the meager resources at our disposal to tackle regional insecurity without overwhelming the Federal Government with requests for monetary intervention. Through our non-kinetic strategy, we secured the unconditional freedom of these 26 young and innocent girls
— Dr. Bello Matawalle (@Bellomatawalle1) November 8, 2020
But speaking with reporters on Monday, Dogara countered the
state government’s claim, saying the victims’ release was made possible by the
efforts of their parents and the community.
Dogara said N6.6 million was paid as ransom to rescue the
girls, adding that the money was handed over to two community leaders —
Abdulkarim Dan Aji and Liman Babangida Dan-Aji — who delivered the ransom to
the kidnappers after trekking for three days into the forest.
“Governor Matawalle was never involved in their release; it
was purely efforts of the parents and the community leaders that secured the
victims’ release,” Dogara said.
“The governor of
Zamfara state should stop claiming credit for the release of our women, because
we paid for their release.”
The village head also said during the attack on the community, 15 persons were killed and houses razed by the kidnappers.
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