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Abducted kagara students release may be in exchange for arrested bandits
By Modupe Shodeinde
Government may have to release arrested bandits in exchange for the release of 27 pupils and 15 workers of Government Science College, Kagara, in the Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, kidnapped on Thursday.
Punch Newspaper reports that the bandits responsible for the abduction wanted their gang members in custody of security agencies released as a swap deal to free the abductees.
In a bid to secure the release of the abducted students and some staff of the college, it was gathered that Kaduna based cleric, Ahmad Gumi, met with some bandits in Niger State.
Gumi told Punch that he had met with an influential leader of a bandit group to mediate negotiation with the bandits responsible for the kidnapping.
Gumi said that during the process of conversing with the bandits, they mentioned the release of their arrested members.
“I met with people who know the people responsible (for the abduction), which is one step ahead. Before now, when there was a kidnapping, we wouldn’t know those responsible, but now, we have met a leader who knows (these people) because he is commanding a large area and knows the person who did it and he is going to speak to him and plead with him (to release the abducted pupils and other victims. Since there is a peace process going on, they should release them. They (the bandits) too have people arrested by security agents. So, I am telling people, this is turning into an insurgency.” Gumi said.
Gumi stated that though the bandits did not demand for the release of their arrested members as a condition for the release of the students, they however said “Okay, we will release them (the pupils and staff members of the school) but we also want you people to consider our people (bandits) that were arrested.’”
The cleric expressed hope that the students will be released soon as the bandit leader he met intends to speak to those responsible for the kidnap.
Gumi further reiterated on his call for amnesty, he said the recent kidnapping has reinforced the need for it .
According to him, he was happy people can now see the reason.
“It is not magic, I am telling you. I am not a criminal and I am not cajoling any government but I want peace in this country.
“People now understand me more and more. These people are harmed; just tell them: ‘Drop your arms, I will not pursue you legally; repent, I will rehabilitate you and I will build schools for you.’ You can’t go by force or with confrontation.”
