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The Kaduna State Government has described a newspaper report that it has hired a private negotiator to negotiate with bandits for release of over 200 students abducted in Kuriga community, Chikun Local Government of the State last Thursday as outrightly mischievous and false.
Muhammad Lawal Shehu, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State said this in a statement on Saturday in reaction to the newspaper report
“We wish to state categorically that the Kaduna State Government did not hire any private negotiator, neither are we contemplating make such a move.
“The hiring of a private negotiator only exists in the fertile imagination of the Punch Newspaper reporter. The Kaduna State Government has a clear policy on non-negotiation with terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements,” Kaduna State government said in the report.
“We urge members of the Press to be cautious in the way they craft and publicise their stories on security in order not to jeopardize the efforts of Government and security agencies in degrading criminal elements laying siege to our communities.
“If the Punch Newspaper had made efforts to contact the Kaduna State Government, they would have gotten the correct information. The Press are our partners in progress. Our doors are always open,” the statement concluded.
About 287 pupils and teachers of Government Secondary School and LEA primary school at Kuriga, Kaduna State were abducted by bandits on Thursday, triggering national outrage.
The bandits reportedly invaded the Kuriga area of the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State, shooting at their victims before taking away the pupils and teachers from both schools.
In a atatement on Friday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ordered release of the students.
See full statement by Kaduna State Government below;
The attention of the Kaduna State Government has been drawn to an outrightly mischievous and false report in the Punch Newspaper of 9th March 2024 stating that the Kaduna State Government has hired a private negotiator to facilitate the safe return of school children abducted in Kuriga community, Chikun Local Government of Kaduna State.
We wish to state categorically that the Kaduna State Government did not hire any private negotiator, neither are we contemplating make such a move. The hiring of a private negotiator only exists in the fertile imagination of the Punch Newspaper reporter. The Kaduna State Government has a clear policy on non-negotiation with terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.
We urge members of the Press to be cautious in the way they craft and publicise their stories on security in order not to jeopardize the efforts of Government and security agencies in degrading criminal elements laying siege to our communities. If the Punch Newspaper had made efforts to contact the Kaduna State Government, they would have gotten the correct information. The Press are our partners in progress. Our doors are always open.
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