Controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has expressed willingness to facilitate comprehensive discussions between the Federal Government and bandits in a bid to secure the release of abducted school children and others in captivity.
Gumi urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration not to repeat the mistake made by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to dialogue with bandits.
He was reacting to the refusal of the Kaduna State government to negotiate with the bandits involved in the abduction of 287 school children from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in Chikun Local Government Area.
Last week, bandits abducted over 280 students from Kuriga primary school and the government.
Reacting, Gumi, in a statement, said: “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 in these Kuriga school children abduction cases but in 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 a religious duty for me to do so for peace.
“I hope the present government of President Bola Tinubu will listen by dialoguing with the bandits because the past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari refused to do so.”
