The Kaduna state government says it never appointed any individual or group to negotiate with criminal bandits on its behalf over the case of abduction of the 39 students of the College of Forestry Mechanisation who were taken forcefully by bandits some days back. The state commissioner for internal security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan stated this on behalf of the state government yesterday; therefore warned that any person found negotiating with the bandits would be prosecuted by the state government.
Recall vigil360 reported that parents of the abducted students had solicited for prominent figures in the state to prevail on the state governor, El-Rufa’i on their behalf to secure the release of their children in the bandits' den.
The parents who protested some three days ago had given the state and the federal government 48hrs to secure the release of their children.
The bandits invaded the college of Forestry located along the Kaduna Airport on 11ht March and abducted 39 students.
However, the Kaduna state government today debunked anybody negotiating on its behalf for the release of the said students.
The commissioner through a statement titled, ‘No intermediaries appointed by Governor El-Rufai to negotiate with bandits,’ said, “The attention of the Kaduna State Government under the leadership of Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been drawn to reports in the media that it has appointed representatives to interface with bandits on its behalf.
The statement added, “The Kaduna State Government hereby clarifies firmly that such intermediaries have never been appointed.
“The position of the Kaduna State Government remains the same: the Government will not negotiate with or pay ransoms to bandits.
The statement warned that “Any person who claims to do so in any capacity, if found, will be prosecuted accordingly.
The state authority reiterated that “Citizens are urged to report the details of any persons posing as official government negotiators to the Kaduna State Security Operations Room on 09034000060 and 08170189999, or email