El-Rufai Vows To Prosecute Anyone Negotiating With Bandits For Kaduna

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has denied appointing any individual or group to negotiate with bandits on its behalf.

Naija News recalls that bandits had in March stormed the Federal College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka in the Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna state and abducted 39 students comprising 23 females and 16 males.

The gunmen, a few days later, kidnapped teachers from UBE Primary School in Rama, a village in Birnin Gwari LGA of the state.

The state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, warned that the government would prosecute anyone negotiating with bandits on its behalf.

The Kaduna government also urged residents to reports any individual or group negotiating with bandits.

The statement read, “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].”