Niger Gov orders closure of boarding schools, rules out ransom payment for kidnapped students

Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger State says his administration will not pay any ransom to kidnappers of students and some staff of Government Science College in Kangara, Rafi Local Government Area of the state.

The governor who fumed at the abduction of the students in the early hours of Wednesday also ordered the immediate closure of all boarding schools in the bandit ravaged areas of the state.

While vowing to do all in his power to ensure the safe release of the students and their teachers, the governor said if the intention of the abductors was to collect ransom from the state, they should think of something else as the state will not bow to such.

Explaining further on the closure of boarding schools, the governor said the action is necessary to save the life of the students as the areas have already been taking over by bandits.

He said this after a brief meeting with heads of security agencies in the state at the Government House, Minna on Wednesday.

Bello urged the President Muhammadu Buhari to deploy all necessary mechanisms to help in containing the situation as it is now out of hand.