Kaduna Abduction: Gumi mulls negotiation with bandits over abducted Kuriga children

Kaduna Abduction: Gumi mulls negotiation with bandits over abducted Kuriga children

Sheik Ahmed Gumi

Gumi, in an interview, called on President Tinubu not to follow the way of his predecessor, who did not allow him talk with the bandits so that captives would regain freedom. 

Says he’s prepared to engage the bandits 

Days after bandits abducted about 287 schoolchildren from Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, renowned Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi said if contacted, he would lead a dialogue between the Federal Government and the bandits so that the children and other abducted Nigerians would be freed.

Gumi, in an interview, called on President Tinubu not to follow the way of his predecessor, who did not allow him talk with the bandits so that captives would regain freedom.

He urged the government to use the same approach it used in securing the release of the Abuja-Kaduna-bound train passengers who were kidnapped on their way to Kaduna on March 28, 2022.

“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 schoolchildren’s abductions but in all cases.”

“Also, the government should use the same approach it used in releasing passengers that were abducted on Abuja-Kaduna train in 2022 to release the Kuriga schoolchildren and others.”

”I am ready to lead a holistic dialogue between the government and bandits. It is a religious duty for me 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,” he said.