By Junaid Abdullahi
Controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has expressed willingness to mediate between the Federal Government and bandits to secure the release of abducted Nigerians.
Sheikh Gumi urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to consider dialogue as a viable option, citing the need to avoid repeating past mistakes.
In response to the recent abduction of 287 school children from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in Chikun Local Government Area, Sheikh Gumi criticized the Kaduna State government’s stance of refusing to negotiate with the bandits involved. He stressed the importance of dialogue not only in the Kuriga school children abduction case but also in addressing all similar incidents.
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 for these Kuriga school children abduction but all the 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 school children and others.
“I am ready to lead a holistic dialogue be- tween 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 to do so.”
