The Kaduna State Government on Sunday denied reports that it had appointed a go-between it and bandits for negotiations. It also vowed to prosecute anyone making claims that it has the state government’s authority to negotiate on its behalf.
The state commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, made the denial in a statement on Sunday in Kaduna.
“The attention of the Kaduna State Government, under the leadership of Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, has been drawn to reports in the media that it has appointed representatives to interface with bandits on its behalf.
”The State Government hereby, clarifies firmly that such intermediaries have never been appointed,” he said.
According to Aruwan, the position of the Kaduna Government had not changed that it would not negotiate with, or pay ransom to bandits, and “any person who claims to do so in any capacity, if found, will be prosecuted accordingly.”
