Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State has reiterated his administration’s stance not to negotiate with bandits, saying private citizens like clerics can do so in their individual capacities.
The Governor’s statement is coming five days after gunmen abducted 39 students from the Federal College of Forestry mechanization, Afaka in the Igabi Local Government Area of the state.
The bandits are demanding N500 million for the release of the students.
However, El Rufai, while speaking at an expanded meeting of the State Security Council and traditional rulers at the Council Chambers of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Tuesday said his job as governor is to enforce the law and help to prosecute people who commit offences.
“We will not engage with bandits or kidnappers. Private citizens like clerics and clergymen can do so in their individual capacities, to preach to them and ask them to repent.
“We also want them to repent but it is not our job to ask them to do so,’’ he said.
The bandits are demanding N500 million for the release of the students.
However, El Rufai, while speaking at an expanded meeting of the State Security Council and traditional rulers at the Council Chambers of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Tuesday said his job as governor is to enforce the law and help to prosecute people who commit offences.
“We will not engage with bandits or kidnappers. Private citizens like clerics and clergymen can do so in their individual capacities, to preach to them and ask them to repent.
“We also want them to repent but it is not our job to ask them to do so,’’ he said.
