Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said he would dialogue with bandits who abducted about 287 schoolchildren from Kuriga
Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state.
Gumi who disclosed this in an interview with LEADERSHIP last night in Kaduna, said he would facilitate the release of the abducted schoolchildren should President Bola Tinubu give him the opportunity to negotiate.
TheFact Daily recalls that Sheikh Gumi had previously negotiated on behalf of state governments to free abducted people by bandits. One of which was kidnapped students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, Kaduna State in May 2021.
He further warned President Tinubu not to repeat the mistake made by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to dialogue with bandits.
Bandits invaded the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State on Thursday, March 7, 2024, shooting at their victims before taking away at least 280 of the pupils and teachers from both schools.
Reacting to the development, Gumi 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.”
