Kaduna-based Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has again offered to negotiate, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, with bandits (terrorists), who abducted at least 287 school children from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
Gumi disclosed this on Tuesday, urging President Bola Tinubu not to repeat the mistake made by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to dialogue with bandits (terrorists).
He said, “The government’s stand of no negotiation with the bandits is an unfortunate position. My advice is that the government should dialogue with the bandits not only for these Kuriga school children’s abductions but all cases.
“Also, the government should use the same approach it used in releasing passengers that were abducted on the Abuja–Kaduna train in 2022 to release the Kuriga school children and others.
“I am ready to lead a holistic dialogue between the government and bandits. It is my religious duty to do so for peace.
“I hope the present government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will listen by dialoguing with the bandits because the past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari refused to do so.”
The prominent Islamic cleric had previously negotiated on behalf of state governments to free abducted people by bandits.
Recall that bandits had recently invaded the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, shooting at their victims before taking away no fewer than 280 of the pupils and teachers from both Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary School.
The incident happened barely 24 hours after insurgents abducted 200 internally displaced women in Borno State.
The women were reportedly kidnapped in Ngala, the headquarters of Gambarou Ngala in Borno State, while fetching firewood in the bush.
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