Avoid Buhari’s mistakes, dialogue with bandits - Sheikh Gumi to Tinubu

A Muslim cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has advised President Bola Tinubu to dialogue with bandits and not repeat the mistakes of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

His comment comes in the wake of the recent kidnapping of 287 school children from two different schools in Chikun Local Government Area.

Gumi said in a statement: "My advice is that the government should dialogue with the bandits not only for these Kuriga school children’s abductions but all cases.

“I am ready to lead a holistic dialogue between the government and bandits. It is my religious duty to do so for peace.

“I hope the present government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will listen by dialoguing with the bandits because the past administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari refused to do so.”

It was reported that the bandits arrived at Kuriga, shooting at staff and students shortly before abducting them.

This occurred a day after gunmen seized 200 displaced women in Borno State. It was said that these women were taken while gathering firewood in Ngala, Gambarou Ngala.

Also, bandits raided Gonin-Gora in the Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) the next day after Borno’s attack.

The State government on their part, has declined to dialogue with the bandits to secure the release of the abducted school children.