The Kaduna State based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi has reportedly led a team to the abductors of the students of Government Science College in Kagara, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State that were kidnapped within the school premises.
Unconfirmed reports stated that the abductees have been released to the cleric on Thursday night and were said to have been taken to some undisclosed public health facilities for medical checkup in Minna, the state capital in order to ascertain their health status and treatment shortly after they were set free.
Gumi had met and dialogued with the leader of the bandits identified as Dogo Gide, in conjunction with some of his members after what seemed to be a long hours before the two parties could reach a truce.
According to Gumi, he met with different factions of the bandits in Niger and they all have their complaints, adding that the outcome of the meeting was positive.
“The outcome is very positive because we have worrying factions. Each faction is saying they have their own complaints and grievances which are very simple. There is hope that we can resolve this.
“I appeal to the government and recommend that the government should do to them exactly what they did to the Niger Delta militants and give them a blanket amnesty. Then if anybody will continue we will deal with him.”
A source close to some top government officials revealed that the meeting was initiated with the view to employing dialogue in resolving the incident with the leaders of the dreaded bandits and the need for Gumi to reach out to the bandits to release all the kidnapped students, their teachers and others unhurt.
The comprehensive nature of the demands by the criminals is yet to be disclosed by their leader, Dogo Gide.
Recall that over 40 people including 27 students, three staff and 12 members of their family were abducted by suspected bandits at the Government Science College, Kagara in Rafi Local Government of Niger State.
The State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello had earlier vowed never to negotiate with bandits.
