School abduction: Gumi offers to negotiate with bandits

March 12, 2024 Hadiza Musa

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, an Islamic scholar based in Kaduna, proposed a dialogue with the bandits responsible for the abduction of 287 schoolchildren from schools in Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State.

Gumi expressed his willingness to lead the negotiations for peace, but only if President Bola Tinubu gives him the opportunity.

Gumi believes dialogue is the answer, arguing “the government’s stand of no negotiation with the bandits is an unfortunate position.”

He urged Tinubu to avoid repeating the approach of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to do so.

“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,” the cleric revealed in a statement according to the Punch.

Recall that bandits invaded the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, shooting at their victims before taking away at least 280 of the pupils and teachers from both schools.

The incident occurred barely 24 hours after insurgents abducted 200 internally displaced women in Borno State.

The women were kidnapped in Ngala, the headquarters of Gambarou Ngala in Borno State, while fetching firewood in the bush.

The government of the affected state has refused to dialogue with the bandits to release the schoolchildren and has also refuted claims that it had hired a private negotiator to facilitate the release of the victims.