General Abdulasalmi Abubakar (rtd) has said negotiating with bandits is not the best option to banditry.
Speaking when a delegation of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) visited him at his residence in Minna, Niger State, the former head of state said government might be forced to accept dialogue over the release of victims of Government Science College, Kagara.
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He appealed to the government to consider all possible options to secure the release of the victims.
“Dialogue is not the best way but when you are the one wearing the shoe, what will you do? Our children have been abducted for over five days, even if you know where they are, it will be foolhardy to storm there and fight them because there may be casualties.
“Sometimes there is a need to see the best way you can talk to these heartless people to see how you can get these people released. But dialogue is not the best way.
“The law enforcement agencies need to work together to map new strategies on how to deal with the problem,” he said.
Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who is Chairman of the forum, also led the delegation to the residence of former military President Ibrahim Babangida, who spoke on the plight of the kidnapped Kagara victims.
“The safety of the children is of the utmost importance for now. We want them to come out safely without anyone being hurt. Any measure the government takes to secure their release will be okay,” he said.
The victims have spent one week in captivity.
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