BEVERLY HILLS, February 26, (THEWILL) – The Islamic scholar leading the government’s negotiations with some bandits, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, on Friday said the abductors of the Zamfara schoolgirls were not the same ones he recently engaged in the forests.
THEWILL reported that bandits at about 1 am on Friday stormed Jangebe Government Secondary School in Talata Mafara Local Government Area and kidnapped over 300 female students.
Speaking with The Nation shortly after the incident, Gumi said the abduction was carried out by a splinter group of the Zamfara bandits.
The Islamic scholar, who appeared to have discussed the new abduction with the bandit leaders he recently met, stated categorically: “They are not the ones that abducted the girls. It is a splinter group.”
When asked whether he would be going to Zamfara to meet the bandits for talks and plead for the release of the school girls, Sheikh Gumi simply said, “Maybe.”
The Islamic scholar has taken his peace message to bandits’ hideouts in Zamfara where about 500 were reported to have repented in the Shinkafi Local Government Area.
The renowned Islamic scholar and his delegation also met with bandits at Sububu forest and Pakai forests.
