I’ll reveal those behind Jangebe abduction after schoolgirls have been reunited with families – Matawalle

Governor Bello Matawalle has said he will reveal the identities of those behind the abduction of over 300 students of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Jangebe in the Talata Mafara Local Government Area of the state.

He, however, said he would make the disclosure when the schoolgirls, freed yesterday by their abductors, are reunited with their parents.

Matawalle said this in response to the call by the Area Consultative Forum that the governor stop embarrassing the north by what it called “careless” statement over the Jangebe abduction.

The forum said this following Matawalle’s claim, while the efforts to secure the release of the abducted schoolgirls were still ongoing, that he knew those behind the abduction.

The governor added that those who masterminded the abduction did so to sabotage his efforts to rid the state of kidnapping through his ongoing peace talks with repentant bandits.

He even stressed that Nigerians would be shocked if he revealed the identities of those behind the abduction.

He said this while receiving 17 Emirs in the state at the Government House,Gusau,  three days ago.

He said, ” I want to inform you that there are many revelations in relation to the abduction of these students. Many people will be surprised to hear those people behind the abduction of these innocent children.”

But days after he made the state ACF challenged Matawalle to name those behind the abduction or be treated as an “accomplice” by security operatives.

The pan-northern socio-political organisation, the Arewa Consulltative Forum said the governor should live up to the expectation of the Northern people who see him as one of the people to help them clear the security mess they find themselves.

But hours after the challenge from ACF, Matawalle said the group shouldn’t be in a hurry as he would reveal the identities of those who orchestrated the Jangebe abduction.

He said, “I want the children to eat, be treated and then taken back to their respective places before I make the revelations.”

The governor also said his administration did not pay ransom to secure the release of the Jangebe schoolgirls.

Matawalle said, “Nothing was given to them (the bandits).”

He added, “You can ask the repentant bandits who are right now here with us. They were the people who intervened and the children were released unconditionally.”