One week after a rash of mass abductions in Northern Nigeria, the Federal Government has announced that it is reviewing offers of foreign assistance in the battle against the spate of kidnappings and other high-profile crimes especially against schoolchildren and women.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who spoke to journalists at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, acknowledged that United States (U.S.) and other unnamed countries, have offered to assist Nigeria.
Many Nigerians have been calling on the Federal Government to seek external support, if necessary, to end the rising insecurity, especially the mass abduction of pupils, students and women.
It was the first time the government would inform Nigerians that some foreign countries had offered to assist.
The Minister also reiterated the President’s directive that security agencies must ensure the safe return of all kidnap victims.
Incidences of kidnapping, especially in the North, spiked in the last few weeks.
Last Thursday, terrorists successfully executed a mass abduction of over 287 pupils and students from a Primary and Secondary School at Kuriga, a community in Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State.
The incident came barely 24 hours after Boko Haram terrorists abducted over 200 Internally Displaced women from three Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) camps in Borno State.
Days later, another band of terrorists abducted some Tsangaya students at Gidan Bakuso in Gada LGA of Sokoto State. Tsangaya is a school that combines Islamic and Western education.
No fewer than 61 people were abducted by suspected terrorists who attacked the Buda community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna on Monday.
In Borno, over 200 women were kidnapped from their Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camp.
The Information Minister said this on foreign assistance: “We’re aware that it is not just the U.S. that has offered to help. Other countries have also offered to support Nigeria.
“But what we can tell you is that the government is still reviewing these offers and the position of government will be made known.”
Idris said that President Tinubu was emphatic that no ransom would be paid for the release of any kidnapped victim but must be rescued, stating that security agencies are working to rescue those abducted as soon as possible.
He said: “Mr. President reiterated his directive to security agencies and the Ministry of Defense to ensure that our kids are brought back to their homes safely. The security agencies are working around the clock. These children and people that have been abducted by criminal elements will be brought back to safety pretty soon.
“Mr. President has also directed that no ransom will be paid by the government to any of these criminal elements. I think it’s important that this be put out there. So it’s important to underscore that the government is not paying anybody any dime.
“The government is optimistic that these children and other people that have been abducted will be brought back to their families in safety.”
