How to free the eight French nationals held hostage by suspected members of Boko Haram in northern Nigeria was the main thrust of discussion when President Goodluck Jonathan held a closed door meeting with the French foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius at the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport Abuja on Saturday.
The meeting which lasted for about 30 minutes among other issues reviewed the relations between Nigeria and France and the quick intervention in the crisis in Mali which they said could have placed Nigeria at a great risk.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Olugbenga Ashiru, assured the French envoy that the federal government is working in tandem with all security agencies to ensure that the kidnapped French nationals are released without harm as he vowed that Nigeria will not pay ransom for their release.
“As part of our own policy, we don’t pay ransom to terrorists but we would do everything possible to ensure that those terrorists are able to release their captives without any harm coming (to) them” he stated.
Also briefing state house correspondents after the meeting, Mr Fabius who spoke in the French language said that it is important that his country is deeply worried about those held hostage and would want the two countries to be careful so that they be released without harm.
“Of course, we raised the subject of hostages,” Fabius said of his meeting with Jonathan. “There are eight French hostages that are in Nigeria…We truly (and) very deeply wish that the French hostages can be freed.”
The seven French nationals, including four children were kidnapped last month in Cameroon near the northeastern border with Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Olugbenga Ashiru, assured the French envoy that the federal government is working in tandem with all security agencies to ensure that the kidnapped French nationals are released without harm as he vowed that Nigeria will not pay ransom for their release.
“As part of our own policy, we don’t pay ransom to terrorists but we would do everything possible to ensure that those terrorists are able to release their captives without any harm coming (to) them” he stated.
Also briefing state house correspondents after the meeting, Mr Fabius who spoke in the French language said that it is important that his country is deeply worried about those held hostage and would want the two countries to be careful so that they be released without harm.
“Of course, we raised the subject of hostages,” Fabius said of his meeting with Jonathan. “There are eight French hostages that are in Nigeria…We truly (and) very deeply wish that the French hostages can be freed.”
The seven French nationals, including four children were kidnapped last month in Cameroon near the northeastern border with Nigeria.
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