The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has revealed that the Federal Government Paid NO RANSOM for the release of the school pupils abducted from Kuriga Village in Kaduna State.

Speaking after yesterday’s FEC meeting, the minister also clarified that all the 137 pupils kidnapped were safely released.

Our correspondent, Raliat Adenekan reports that the minister said President Tinubu also charged the security agencies to step up their efforts to end the nationwide kidnapping threat, and all the perpetrators of kidnapping must be arrested and brought to book.

The Minister also reiterated the President’s directive on the celebration of his 72^nd birthday, asking all friends and associates wishing to celebrate him to donate such monies to charity organizations in his name, instead of placing adverts in the media.