The President in a statement on Saturday by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu also commended the Niger State government as well as the nation’s security operatives for roles played in securing the release of the abducted persons.

“We are happy they have been released,” Buhari was quoted to have said in the statement.

The statement further quoted Buhari to have “greatly sympathized with the staff and the students, their parents, and friends on this ordeal.”

The statement reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday welcomed the release of the abducted students of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State.

“The President commended the nation’s security and intelligence agencies and the government of Niger State for their responses in securing the release.

“’We are happy they have been released’ said President Buhari, who also greatly sympathized with the staff and the students, their parents and friends on this ordeal.”

While condemning the abduction as well as the latest one in Zamfara State, Buhari promised to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“President Buhari once again condemned the school abductions, with latest one at the Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Zamfara State, and directed all security and intelligence agencies in the country to hunt down the culprits and bring them to justice,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has warned state governments to stop the practice of giving cash, cars, and other forms of rewards to bandits in the name of negotiating with them.

The President noted that such practices are dangerous and only elevate the level of criminal activities in the country.

He added that the actions by such state governments have the potential to backfire with a lot of negative consequences.

Buhari rather urged the state and local governments to beef up security in and around schools and other places that may be targeted by the insurgents.

He made the submission as part of his reaction on Friday to the kidnap of over 300 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Zamfara State.