By Moses Okorie
Bandits terrorizing Niger State and its environs have given the state government condition for peace, saying government must release all their arrested fighters before they lay down their arms.
Bandits’ commanders stated this on Friday, February 19, 2021, when an Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmed Abubakar Gumi, accompanied by the Secretary to Niger State Government, Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, visited their hideout at Dutsen Magaji, Mariga Local Government Area of the state, to appeal for dialogue and reconciliation.
On his part, Matane addressed the bandits and their commanders urging them to embrace peace dialogue being initiated by the government.
He said peace and dialogue will bring an end to the security challenges faced by the state.
Matane further appealed to the bandit commanders to support government’s effort in securing the release of the abducted passengers of Niger State Transport Authority Mass Transit and the students of Government Science College, Kagara.
He said religious leaders and other stakeholders would be included in the engagement of bandits, kidnappers, and cattle rustlers in peace process initiated by the government.
In his remarks Sheikh Gumi expressed optimism that dialoguing with the bandits will put an end to the current insecurity in the state and country at large.
Gumi reminded the hoodlums that Islam is against taking the lives of innocent people and appealed to them to embrace peace by laying down their arms.
He said he will continue to discuss with the state government to explore whatever assistance and support government will give to them with a view to achieving the set objectives.
Some of the commanders in their separate remarks applauded the state government for the peace process.
Highlight of the occasion was the distribution of Islamic books to the bandits by Sheikh Ahmed Gumi so as to teach them the doctrine of Islam.