By Correspondent in Minna
There is a strong indication, on Friday, that the 27 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kagara in Niger state and some of their teachers as well as other person abducted by the bandits recently will soon regain their freedom.
The Reporters gathered that the cheering development followed the intervention of the foremost Islamic scholar in the north, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, who visited the forest where the bandits reside, with a view to pleading and preaching for them for the release of the students and other persons they abducted kidnapped in the state.
According to a statement by Tukur Manu, one of those on the entiurage of Gumi, said the cleric met the leader of the bandits,Dogo Gide and other top commanders of the group at Dutsen Magaji Forest, where he urged them to release the students and their other victims.
Manu said Gumi also visited the bandits in continuation of his efforts to take the message of Islam to armed Fulani bandits and to explore dialogue as the only means of addressing the uprising associated with killings and kidnappings.
He added that Sheikh,who had earlier visited the Governor of Niger state, Sani Bello, emphasized the importance of dialogue, especially in a society where government did not have the capacity to fully protect lives and property from incessant attacks.
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi,flanked by other top Niger state government officials.
Gumi,he said, advised Governor Bello to use part of the money his government was spending on security to address some of the major concerns and grievances of the Fulani herdsmen in the state.
Receiving the foremost cleric, the governor thanked him for untiring efforts in ensuring an end to kidnappings and other crimes in the country.
Mamu said:”Bello had thanked Sheikh Gumi for the visit and for his endless sacrifices across the country.
“He said having tried the military option alone without commensurate success, he is now convinced more than ever before that dialogue and teaching the armed Fulanis about their religion and integrating them into the society, as the Sheikh always admonishes government, is the only way to address rampant cases of insecurity particularly in his state.
“Governor Bello told Gumi that his administration is ready for constructive engagement and dialogue with the armed Fulanis and acknowledged that over the years, Fulani herdsmen were forgotten by governments at all levels and that there has never been any provision in previous budgets for their welfare in the past.
“Both Gumi and Governor Bello are in total agreement that given out ransom to the rampaging herdsmen is not the option and that government will resist it and that instead, provision of basic amenities like schools, water for human and animal consumption, clinics and job creation will be prioritised for them.”
Stating their own side of the coin in the matter during the preaching session organised by Gumi, the bandits said they resorted to such action because of their frustration.
“Each of the commanders of the bandits was given chance by Gumi to address the crowd. They separately narrated their ordeal, their frustrations and why they resorted to banditry. They said they only accepted the invitation because they were told it was Sheikh Gumi.
“They complained of what they called excesses of local vigilantes popularly called Yan Sa Kai and how they have been killing innocent Fulanis and warned that if Fulanis are not allowed to move freely without threat and molestation, there won’t be end to banditry and kidnappings in the entire north,” Manu added.
Responding to the grievances of the bandits, Sheikh Gumi assured them that all the governors of the North West are now in agreement that, the Fulani herdsmen had been forgotten by governments for many years,adding that they would henceforth work toward giving the herdsmen special attention.
“Apparently satisfied with the sincerity of Sheikh Gumi, leader of the bandits, Dogo Gide, assured him that he will not be disappointed and that on their part, they will do everything possible to maintain the peace and give reasonable time pending when they are convinced about what government will do.
“The most interesting and fulfilling part of Sheikh Gumi’s engagement and preaching session with the bandits is when the top commander, Dogo Gide, promised Gumi that all those kidnapped either directly by his people or those he has influenced to talk to will soon be released.
” It is expected that the Kagara school boys, their teachers and other passengers that were abducted in the state-owned passenger bus will be released any moment from now,” he said.
