The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has said they support the idea of a controversial cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, talking to the bandits who kidnapped over 280 schoolchildren from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in Kaduna State.
They believe Gumi might be able to get the children released and stop more kidnappings if he talks to the bandits.
The Bola Tinubu-led federal government, said they won’t give any money to the kidnappers and will bring the children back safely without paying ransom. But NEF thinks differently.
Their spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said it’s important to support Gumi in trying to solve the crisis in Kaduna peacefully.
He explained that talking to the bandits doesn’t mean agreeing with what they did or letting them go free. It’s about trying to calm things down and save the children’s lives.
Suleiman said that while some might think it’s wrong to negotiate with criminals, talking can sometimes help solve problems without violence.
Gumi might learn why the bandits did what they did, which could help get the children back safely.
Also, talking to the bandits could help address the reasons why they turned to crime in the first place, like being poor or not having access to education. This could help stop more kidnappings in the future.
Supporting Gumi’s talks doesn’t mean saying what the bandits did is okay. It’s about trying to make things better and keep people safe.
Suleiman believes that by talking to the bandits, Gumi might be able to bring the children back and stop more kidnappings.
Even though it might be controversial, talking to the bandits could be an important step in solving the crisis in Kaduna.
