Zamfara State Governor, Bello Mohammed Matawalle has described as malicious, speculations that ransom was paid to secure the release of the 26 Katsina abducted women.
The abducted women were reportedly released through a peace effort by Governor Matawalle who earlier handed the abducted persons to his Katsina State counterpart, Bello Masari.
However, there were speculations from some quarters that ransom were paid through the effort of the Dan-Aji community of Faskari local government area in Katsina where the victims hailed.
But a statement by Zailani Bappa, Special Adviser
Public Enlightenment Media and Communications said the speculations were malicious and false, while blaming misguided individuals for such mischief.
“It has come to the notice of Zamfara State Government that misguided individuals are spreading false and fabricated information on the laudable efforts of Governor Bello Mohammed (Matawallen Maradun) on the release of 26 indigent girls of Katsina state.
“The story that went viral of the efforts of Governor Bello Mohammed in securing the lives of these young souls and handing them over successfully to Governor Bello Masari was however received with bitterness by enemies of peace and obviously, bitter persons who will wish hell loose than Matawalle’s name to soar high.
“These misguided persons have since instigated false information that the girls were not rescued by the peace process initiated by Governir Matawalle administration but by ransom paid by the families of the released girls,” the statement said.
He insisted that the rescued women were not released on ransom as their families have since denied the false story.
“His Excellency, Governor Bello Mohammed has never taken any step in the last one year and five months to score any cheap political goal but simply doing his assigned job which he swore to do. Indeed, any iota of dishonesty in his intent or approach would have woefully failed and put the state in jeorpardy as it happened to those leaders preceding him.
“Governor Bello Mohammed notes with satisfaction that God has always vindicated him from such machinations and will continue to do so as his only aim so far is to discharge his onerous task of securing lives and property of all Zamfarans and not to deceive them,” he maintained