Prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi Thursday, visited the Tagina forest in Niger State where he met with bandits and their leaders.
The bandits were led by their leader, Dogo Gide and Gumi appealed to them to give peace a chance.
The meeting comes few hours after bandits invaded Government Science College, Kagara in Niger State, and abducted some students and staff of the school.
TrackNews Online understands Tagina forest is in Niger state Northcentral linking with Birnin Gwari forest in Kaduna Northwest.
See photos of the visit.
Previously while reacting to the Kagara abduction, Sheikh Gumi had on Wednesday afternoon, promised to visit Kagara for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
The cleric, who had earlier paid a visit to the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, added that he would come back to the state to have a discussion with the governor over the abduction.
He said this is his first time visiting Niger, adding that his discussion with the Governor is to enable the government to find a solution to insecurity.
Gumi noted that he could not visit Kagara now because he was on his way to Kebbi State for a meeting with bandits in the state.
Sheik Gummi has been in the news for some weeks, after meeting with bandits in Katsina and Zamfara states, appealing to them to embrace peace.
He later asked the Federal and State Governments to offer amnesty to bandits, saying dialogue is the solution to insecurity.
Meanwhile, the alleged invasion in some communities in Orlu, Imo State by operatives of the Nigeria Air Force has continued to generate reactions from Nigerians.
It was gathered that the strike started on Thursday morning worsening the already built-up tension in the areas.
A video of the aerial bombardments on Thursday surfaced with fresh tension and anxiety building in the communities.
Confirming the military operation, the army spokesperson of the 34 artillery Brigade, Obinze, Owerri, Imo state, Babatunde Zubairu, said the locals were not being harassed.
He confirmed the deployment of helicopters and other military gadgets in the operations.
Nigerians, however, have condemned the deployment of the military operatives to Orlu days after the students and staffs of the Government Science College Kagara in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State were abducted by bandits in the early hours of Wednesday.
Some Nigerians have described the action of the military as a misplaced priority and charged them to face terrorism and banditry in the North-East.
