KADUNA: Anyone caught negotiating with bandits will be prosecuted – Govt

THE Nasir El-rufai administration has restated its aversion to negotiation with bandits.

The government said this in reaction to reports in the media that it has appointed representatives to interface with bandits on its behalf.

According to the reports, the move is to secure release of the 39 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Mando in Igabi Local Government Area of the state in the den of bandits.

But the government has dissociated itself from the reports saying it never appointed any group or individual to negotiate on its behalf with bandits over the abduction of the students.

Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, today, declared that anyone caught negotiating with bandits, on government’s behalf, would be prosecuted.

In a statement titled, ‘No intermediaries appointed by Governor El-Rufai to negotiate with bandits,’ the commissioner said, “The attention of the Kaduna State Government under the leadership of Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been drawn to reports in the media that it has appointed representatives to interface with bandits on its behalf.

“The Kaduna State Government hereby clarifies firmly that such intermediaries have never been appointed.

“The position of the Kaduna State Government remains the same: the Government will not negotiate with or pay ransoms to bandits.

“Any person who claims to do so in any capacity, if found, will be prosecuted accordingly.

“Citizens are urged to report the details of any persons posing as official government negotiators to the Kaduna State Security Operations Room on 09034000060 and 08170189999, or email [email protected].”

The students of FCFM were abducted on March 11, 2021, when the bandits in their large numbers invaded their school located opposite the Nigerian Defence Academy along the Kaduna International Airport road. Days after their abduction, a viral video was released by their kidnappers showing the inhuman treatment being meted out to the students.

But despite the video, the El-rufai administration insisted the government won’t negotiate with bandits forcing parents of the abducted students to stage a protest asking both the State and Federal Government to effect the release of their children within 48 hours.