Gumi Urges President Tinubu To Negotiate With Bandits Over Abducted Kuriga Children; Offers Self As Negotiator

By Akinwale Kasali

Five days after over 280 Children were abducted in Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area in Kaduna State by bandits, Islamic Cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi has advised President Bola Tinubu to negotiate with the bandits and get the Children released.

Gumi went further to say 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.

The controversial Islamic Scholar called on President Tinubu not to go the way of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari, 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.

It would be recalled that during the administration of former President Buhari, Gumi  met with some bandits who abducted people in Kaduna and in the North East, raising questions about the integrity of Gumi, as a section of Nigerians called for his arrest.