In the wake of the abduction of approximately 287 students from Kuriga in Kaduna State’s Chikun Local Government Area, esteemed Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi has proposed to facilitate negotiations between the Federal Government and the kidnappers to secure the children’s release, along with other captives.
During an interview, Sheikh Gumi appealed to President Tinubu to deviate from his predecessor’s stance, which barred him from engaging with the bandits.
He suggested adopting the same negotiation tactics that were effective in freeing the hostages of the Abuja-Kaduna train incident 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.
