I Don’t Know About N800,000 Paid For Kaduna Students’ Release – Sheikh Gumi
Citizen NewsNG
2 min read
Prominent Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, says he knew nothing about the N800,000 a parent claimed he instructed to be paid to a Fulani man named Ahmed.
The ransom was supposedly paid to secure the release of some abducted students in Kaduna State.
One of the parents of the kidnapped students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna State, had said in an effort to secure the release of their children, she and other parents met with Gumi, who directed them to a Fulani man named Ahmed.
The parent, who spoke in an interview with Roots TV, also said they paid N800,000 to Ahmed during a protest at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The students were released by their abductors in Giwa Local Government Area of the state, Wednesday evening.
Gumi in an interview with TheCable described the allegation as “nonsense”, saying, he is not aware of such a transaction.
“Absolute nonsense. I don’t know anything about any money transaction,” he responded via a text message.
A total of 39 students were abducted from their hostel on the night of March 12, but 10 of them were later released.
The military had engaged the attackers at the time of the attack and was able to take back 180 staff and students to safety.
The abductors had made a demand of N500 million ransom to release the students, but the Kaduna State Government said it would not negotiate with nor pay ransom to bandits and terrorists.
Parents of the students have been agitating for the release of their children and had staged a protest at the National Assembly on Tuesday to draw the lawmakers’ attention.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State Government has rejoiced with parents of the students for their safe release.
“The government rejoices with the freed students, their families, and the management of the institution over this development.
“Governor Nasir El-Rufai charged them to view their ordeal as a motivator to put the past behind and work hard towards a happier and successful future ahead,” Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs said in a statement.
