The Federal Government, on Monday, disclosed that no ransom was paid for the release of 137 pupils kidnapped from Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Monday after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

“In keeping with the commitment of Mr President, no ransom was paid,” the minister said.

According to Idris, the president appreciated the role of the security services in the safe return of the abductees, vowing that all those involved in the abduction would be fished out and punished.

Thelagostimes recalls that on March 6, the pupils were kidnapped when terrorists on motorcycles stormed their school and whisked them away.

However, a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, said 137 pupils were rescued, contrary to reports of 287.

According to Buba, the pupils were rescued through a joint effort of the military and local authorities in Zamfara State in the early hours of Sunday.