Kaduna State Government on Sunday remained adamant on its stand not to pay money to bandits again.
It has been under pressure to pay the bandits who have been holding 39 students o the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, in the state, since about a month ago.
Reacting to some reports that Governor Nasir el-Rufai has sent some mediators to the bandits with the intention to pay ransom, the government said in a statement that it would not do so, while threatening to prosecute whoever does so on its behalf.
It said:
“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 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.
“Citizens are urged 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].”
]
