Kidnapped ABU Students: Ex-presidential Aide, Joe Abah, Wants IGP Queried over Alleged False Claim by Police

Pat Stevens/

A former Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dr. Joe Abah, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to issue a query to the Inspector General of Police over reports of alleged false claim by the police that their men were responsible for the rescue of the three kidnapped students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

The three were among the six people kidnapped on the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on Monday.

Police authorities in Kaduna State had issued a statement on yesterday claiming that their men engaged the kidnappers in a gunfight and rescued three of six abducted victims.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, had also tweeted media reports of the claim by the police before facts emerged to the contrary.

Reacting to this development in a tweet on his verified Twitter handle, @DrJoeAbah, this afternoon, Abah wrote: “Just before we completely lose our sense of normalcy, let me say this: When the Police releases an official statement saying they have rescued kidnap victims, we should be able to believe it without question. NAN and @BashirAhmaad are entitled to rely on their statement.

“That the Police could put out an official statement that they rescued the ABU kidnap victims, when they didn’t, is another kick in the gut for Nigeria. Just like the army killing policemen to free a kidnapper. Is there no shred of decency left in this country? I am tired mehn!

“Similarly, when a Presidential aid shares news about an achievement by the Police, we should be able to believe it without question. That is why it was right that @BashirAhmaad apologised. I expect that he and his bosses will be reaching out to the IGP for an explanation soon.”

Ahmad had similarly shared a post on Twitter chiding the police authorities in Kaduna State for misinforming the public about their involvement in the rescue of the three students and apologised for sharing a false report.

Ahmad also said he had deleted his tweet of some media reports which claimed police were responsible for the rescue of the victims, after he learned that the three were released by their abductors following negotiations with their families and payment of the agreed ransom.

His tweet reads: “I have taken down this tweet. Relatives and one of the victims confirmed that there’s no police involvement in the process that lead to their release. Got the info first from NAN, mins later some n’papers carried it, too bad police was trying to take credit. I apologize for sharing it.”

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