March 09, (THEWILL) – The Kaduna State Government says it has neither hired a private negotiator nor contemplated making such a move to free pupils and teachers abducted by bandits on Thursday.
THEWILL reports that over 100 pupils and teachers, including the head teacher, were abducted on Thursday, when gunmen suspected to be bandits attacked the Government joint Primary and Secondary school in Kuriga Community of Chikun Council Local Government Area of the state.
Some media (not THEWILL), had reported that the State Government contracted a private negotiator to liaise with the abductors.
But the Kaduna State Government, in a statement issued by Muhammad Lawal Shehu, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said it had neither hired a negotiator nor contemplated making such a move.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Kaduna State Government has been drawn to an outrightly mischievous and false report of 9th March 2024 stating that the Kaduna State Government has hired a private negotiator to facilitate the safe return of school children abducted in Kuriga community, Chikun Local Government of Kaduna State.
“We wish to state categorically that the Kaduna State Government did not hire any private negotiator, neither are we contemplating making such a move.
“The hiring of a private negotiator only exists in the fertile imagination of the reporter. The Kaduna State Government has a clear policy on non-negotiation with terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.
“We urge members of the Press to be cautious in the way they craft and publicise their stories on security in order not to jeopardise the efforts of Government and security agencies in degrading criminal elements laying siege on our communities.
“If the reporter had made efforts to contact the Kaduna State Government, they would have gotten the correct information. The Press are our partners in progress. Our doors are always open.”
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