Islamic cleric, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, on Saturday said the abducted students of the Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State might be released today.
Recall that bandits in the early hours of Wednesday stormed the school and kidnapped 27 pupils and 15 staff members after killing a Senior Secondary School 3 pupil.
Gumi who has been meeting with bandits in the forest in an interview on Saturday told Punch, there is a possibility that the abductees might be released today, following the talks between the government and the bandits.
He further stated that the negotiation for the release of the schoolchildren and members of staff was slowed down due to logistics.
According to Gumi, the negotiation does not involve the payment of ransom.
Gumi during the interview said, “What I hear from (our contact) is that they are still negotiating to release them (schoolchildren and staff members) and hopefully, hopefully, we will get them tomorrow (Sunday), hopefully.”
“Up till now, they have not been able to identify the boys, who (did the kidnapping). You know they are splinter groups. So, when you are dealing with groups like that in a vast area, with no communication, no road, then it has to be slow. But the main actors are ready to negotiate and stop the kidnapping altogether.”
Asked if the negotiation involved money, Gumi said, “No, no; it does not. If it involves money, it means the same criminality. They are saying these are our conditions and we will stop this thing. So, negotiation is ongoing and their demands are being looked into, which are very simple.”
According to Gumi, the bandits are mainly asking the state to release arrested bandits in the custody of security agencies.
He explained, “They have just four people in detention and they are asking for them. They also need assurance and that is why we are calling for amnesty for them. They have been fighting for a long time; it’s been more than eight years.
“These people are fighting for their existence because when they go to town they are lynched when the police see them on the road, they arrest them; sometimes they are executed extrajudicially, so they took arms against the state. When you give them amnesty, all of them will drop their weapons.”
