By Oluwayanmife Ayobami
In the midst of rising tensions surrounding the abduction of students from Zamfara State’s Federal University, the Governor of Zamfara, Dauda Lawal, has accused the Federal Government of engaging in secret negotiations with the bandits responsible.
Lawal’s claim has, however, been met with denial by the Federal Government, as a former Chairman of the Committee on Prosecution of Bandits Related Offenses, Sani Shinkafi, deems the governor’s accusations “out of context.”
Lawal alleges that certain officials of the Federal Government held clandestine talks with the bandits without the knowledge of the state government and other security agencies.
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There should be a comprehensive investigation
He has called for an urgent and comprehensive investigation into the purported secretive negotiations.
In response to the accusations, the Federal Government asserted that there was no truth in the claims of secret negotiations with bandits in Zamfara.
Shinkafi, appearing on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ program, emphasized that accusations against the Federal Government are misplaced, urging a focus on collaborative efforts to address the security challenges in the state.
The former bandit prosecution committee chairman stressed the need for both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies to combat insecurity, emphasizing the challenging terrain in which the military operates.
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Tinubu directs security agencies to rescue abducted Zamfara students
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has instructed security agencies to immediately rescue female students of Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, who were abducted.
Last Friday, armed bandits abducted about 24 undergraduate students in Sabin Gida, a community located opposite the university’s main campus.
Fortunately, the Nigerian army engaged the bandits and rescued six female students during the abduction.
