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The Federal Government has reacted to claims credited to the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal that its agencies are engaging in secret negotiations with bandits in the state.
This followed the abduction of about 30 female students of the Federal University of Gusau last Friday.
Reports indicated that a delegation allegedly sent by some agencies of the Federal Government had been holding talks with bandit groups in Zamfara without the knowledge of the state government.
Lawal, on Monday, in a statement by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Idris, lamented the action of some Federal Government agencies engaged in negotiations with bandits without recourse to the state government.
He called on the Federal Government to clarify the action of the agencies involved, saying the move was at variance with his administration’s adoption of a kinetic strategy in the fight against banditry.
“Governor Dauda Lawal wishes to call on the Federal Government to clarify and investigate the actions of some unscrupulous elements sabotaging the ongoing fight against banditry in Zamfara.
“The Zamfara State Government has received reports of how some Federal Government delegation met with different bandit groups in Birnin Magaji, Maradun, Mun haye, Ajah, Bawo, and Bagege.
“Previous administrations in the state failed to achieve positive outcomes in their attempts to engage in dialogue with bandits. We must learn from these past mistakes and adopt a new approach to restore peace in Zamfara.