Though Nigeria’s troubled President Muhammadu Buhari did not disclose the amount of money paid as ransom to bandits to release 27 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation in Kaduna, he has thanked Nigerians for their fervent prayers.

“We thank Nigerians for their prayers,” said Mr Buhari.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Wednesday slammed ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and Mr Buhari for paying ransoms to bandits, saying, “The government has always paid ransom. Not only this government. Even during Jonathan. They paid ransom. But they denied it.”

Mr Buhari, in a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu, late Wednesday night, congratulated the friends and families of the students over their release.

He also congratulated the government and people of Kaduna, following the happy end of the saga.

“We are happy they have been released,” said Mr Buhari. 

He added, “We express our deep appreciation to all the actors who contributed one way or the other to this happy outcome, in particular, the defence and security agencies, the officials of the Ministry of Environment and the government of Kaduna State.”

Mr Buhari called for steadfastness and security awareness on the part of citizens and the law enforcement agencies.

He, however, deplored the increasing politicisation of security issues in the country by opportunistic politicians.

The president appealed for the release of the students of Greenfield University and all other Nigerians held hostage.

He expressed the strong determination of his regime to ensure that Nigerians lived in “a country where everyone can move where they want when they want without the fear of kidnapping and banditry.”