Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has said he is willing to dialogue with bandits who kidnapped about 287 schoolchildren in Kaduna State last week.
The victims are students of Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in Chikun Local Government Area.
The incident occurred barely 24 hours after insurgents abducted 200 internally displaced women in Borno State.
Gumi said President Bola Tinubu should not repeat the mistake made by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who refused to dialogue with bandits.
In a statement, Gumi berated Kaduna State Government for refusing to negotiate with the kidnappers.
“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,” he said.
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“Also, the government should use the same approach it used in releasing passengers who 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.”
Gumi previously negotiated on behalf of state governments to free people taken captive by bandits.
