- Bandits’ warlords pledge immediate release of all abducted persons, including Kagara students, staff
Popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, has met with bandits terrorizing some Local Government Areas and communities in Niger State including the abductors of staff and students of Government Science College, Kagara, with the cleric saying the bandits have pledged to release all the kidnapped victims in their captivity, within the State.
The ‘mediation parley’ between Sheikh Gumi and the criminals was attended by notorious kidnapping warlords such as Dogon Gida, Kachalla.
Gumi said that the reconciliation forum, which took place in an isolated area inside a forest, the bandits expressed willingness to part of any deradicalization exercise or programme that the government will unveil for their repentant ‘boys.’
Sources said that the bandits told Gumi that they are tired of the atrocities and killing of innocent persons, the have been carrying out.
“They are not happy that several of their cows have been bombarded, and some stolen by robbers. They alleged that their fellow herdsmen have been killed by some villagers,” he added.
According to the source, who declined giving his name, the bandits took Gumi round some wells were bodies of their fulani relatives and family members, killed in aerial bombardments, were dumped.
“They also let Sheikh Gumi know that vigilantee members in some communities always attack their fulani relatives and family members, whenever they sight them going to markets and towns,” he said.
First published by PRNigeria