Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has hinted that the reason behind his sudden withdrawal of his seven-year-old son, Abubakar Al-Sadiq El-Rufai, from Kaduna Capital school, is as a result of repeated attempts by armed bandits to kidnap him.
He stated this in an interview with BBC Pidgin after being accused of secretly withdrawing his son despite having announced publicly, his son’s enrollment in the Government owned primary school in a bid seen to boost confidence in the patronage of public schools.
However, confirming that he has withdrawn his son from the school, the governor stated that it became imperative after two failed attempts by bandits to kidnap his son and may on the process, endanger the lives of other pupils and teachers of the school.
El-Rufai said, “My son was registered in the school and so my daughter who clocked six years. But we have to temporarily withdraw them for the security of the school because we foiled plans from at least two groups to attack the school to kidnap my son.
“I don’t think they will succeed because enough security was put in place to prevent them. But other children will be in danger. We don’t have an idea about the kind of weapons they will carry.
“I have taken a stand against paying bandits. We got intel that they were planning to kidnap my son from Kaduna Capital School to see whether I will pay ransom if they kidnap my son.”
The governor had made his stance of not paying ransom to Kidnappers known.
According to Punch, during a radio interview in April, El-rufai said, “I mean it and I will say it again here. Even if my son is kidnapped, I will rather pray for him to make heaven instead because I won’t pay any ransom,”