Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The Federal Government has berated the Zamfara State government for choosing to play politics with the abduction of the students of Federal University Gusau, for cheap political goals.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, expressed the disavowal in a statement Monday night following a statement credited to the Zamfara State Governor, Dr. Dauda Lawal, wherein he accused the Federal Government of holding talks with bandit groups in Zamfara that abducted some students of the Federal University Gusau, without the knowledge of the state government.
The Federal Government slammed Lawal of playing politics with the sensitive matter rather than appreciate the efforts of agents for the prompt move to rescue the abducted students.
Idris, in the statement signed by the Deputy Director, Press, Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Suleiman Haruna, said that the Federal Government’s institutions were empowered by law to spring to action, with or without prompting, to ensure the safe return of citizens illegally taken hostage like in the case of these hapless students.
“The fact that details of such delicate operations are not revealed by the institutions responsible does not make it in any way surreptitious, as the Zamfara State Government atrociously described this effort.
“The minister states, for the avoidance of doubt, that no official of the Federal Government is engaged in negotiation with any bandit or group of bandits. The government, however, maintains its resolve to explore every available avenue that can lead to de-escalation of tension and bring back peace to communities ravaged by banditry.
“However, if communities decide to borrow a leaf from what has helped quench unrest in other parts of the country to engage themselves in dialogue, the Federal Government would not be in a haste to condemn such people-driven initiative,” Idris said.
He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government and its institutions were working assiduously to turn around the current situation and bring an end to the ebbing cases of banditry, kidnapping and all forms of criminality.
The minister said political differences or personal fight with anybody should not be brought into the serious matter of national security to avoid demoralising the troops or and derailing government’s effort.
He also maintained that the Federal Government is willing to listen and continue its ongoing engagement with all stakeholders across the country in working out a lasting solution to the security problems confronting the country while urging all to join hands with government in addressing the situation.
