After repeated denials, Zamfara governor finally announces release of Jangebe girls

Zamfara governor Bello Matawalle has announced the release of the kidnapped students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe.

The girls were abducted on Friday by bandits who stormed their school on motorcycles and Hilux vehicles.

Matawalle tweeted:

“Alhamdulillah! It gladdens my heart to announce the release of the abducted students of GGSS Jangebe from captivity. This follows the scaling of several hurdles laid against our efforts. I enjoin all well-meaning Nigerians to rejoice with us as our daughters are now safe.”

Reports had it on Sunday that the girls were released to a local emir and were being transported to a secure location to meet th governor. But the police denied the news.

When the girls were finally paraded as “released,” they all had new clothes on fueling claims that the government had time to prepare for their arrival.

The governor, who received the girls at about 5am on Tuesday in Gusau, said the girls were returned safely without paying any ransom.

“This is the result of our peace effort and putting to shame all those saying there is no security in this country,” Matawalle said.

“We have been in discussion since Friday with the abductors and reached agreement on Monday by 4pm that the girls were released.

“We are happy that all 279 have safely returned, they will undergo medical checks and given balanced diets to recupperate by the state government before they are handed back to their respective families.

“I want to appeal to parents not to remove their children from school as a result of this, we will ensure additional security in all the schools.

“We thank all media outlets for their support throughout these trying times,” the governor said.

President Muhammadu Buhari reacted to the news with “pleasure”.”I join the affected families and the people of Zamfara State in welcoming and celebrating the release of the abducted students of GGSS Jangebe,” Buhari said on Tuesday morning.”This news bring overwhelming joy. I am pleased that their ordeal has come to a happy end without any incident.”We are working hard to bring an end to these grim and heartbreaking incidents of kidnapping. The Military and the Police will continue to go after kidnappers.”They need the support of local communities in terms of human intelligence that can help nip criminal plans in the bud,” the president said.