The Kaduna state government says it has not appointed representatives to negotiate with bandits.
Samuel Aruwan, the commissioner for internal security and home affairs, said the state’s position on not negotiating or paying of ransom to bandits will never change.
He said anyone who claims to do so, in whatever capacity, will be prosecuted if found.
“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 released on Sunday read.
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“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.
“Any person who claims to do so in any capacity, if found, will be prosecuted accordingly.”
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He urged “citizens 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 [email protected]”.
Parents of the 39 abducted students of Federal College of Forestry, Afaka, Kaduna, had called on the state government to negotiate with their captors.
The students were abducted on March 11 when bandits invaded the school.
A day after the abduction, a video surfaced online, where the students were seen sitting on the ground in an unknown location and guarded by armed men whose identities were concealed.
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The victims, who were seen being tortured by the armed men, appealed to the government to rescue them.
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