“Why you should join me to negotiate with bandits” — Gumi tells Tinubu

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a controversial Islamic scholar said he’s willing to help the government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu talk to the bandits for the release of abducted Nigerians.

Sheikh Gumi advised President Bola Tinubu’s administration to learn from the past and engage in dialogue with bandits, unlike former President Muhammadu Buhari.

Sheikh Gumi was responding to the Kaduna State government’s decision not to negotiate with the bandits who kidnapped the school children from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in Chikun Local Government Area.

Recall that last week, bandits abducted over 280 students from Kuriga primary school, Kaduna state.

Reacting, 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.”