kidnappers’ den in the country are released without any harm done to them.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, said this shortly after President Goodluck Jonathan met with the French Foreign Minister, Larent Fabius, at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Ashiru said the Federal Government and all security agencies in the country were doing everything possible to ensure that the hostages were released without any untoward thing happening to them.
“We are doing everything possible to secure their release. We want it to end peacefully so that no hostage will be harmed in the process,” he said.
The minister denied any ongoing negotiations with the kidnappers.
“I am not saying that (that negotiation is ongoing). What I am saying is that we will do everything possible to ensure that we get the hostages released. As part of our policy, we don’t pay ransom to terrorists but we will do everything possible to ensure that those terrorists release their captives without any harm done to them,” he said.
Ashiru said during Jonathan’s meeting with Fabius, both parties expressed satisfaction with their political relations so far.
He added that the Federal Government was happy with the number of French companies actively doing business in the country.
“We reviewed all these relations and we are happy that we are both doing well. At the regional level, we reviewed the security situation in Mali. Of course I must take this opportunity to again thank France for what they did in Mali.
“For the decisive intervention, because if the French had not taken the steps they did at that time, Mali would have today become a terrorist country. And if that happened, the target would be to further distabilise the subregion.
“Nigeria would be a prime target but we are happy with the intervention and of course the Nigerian troops are now on ground, they are pushing forward, they are ensuring that the terrorists are totally destroyed and of course, their capability and capacity are also being attacked so that we make them imperative in that region.”
