Abducted school children: We did not hire private negotiator — Kaduna govt

Kaduna state government has debunked the recent media report published in one of the national dailies (not Nigerian Tribune) that it has hired a private negotiator to facilitate the release of 287 school children abducted by bandits on Thursday at Government Secondary School, Kuriga in Chikun local government area of the state.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Muhammad Lawal Shehu and made available to newsmen in Kaduna on Saturday.

While debunking the media reports, the government said it did not hire any private negotiator nor even contemplating of doing so as published by the newspaper.

The statement therefore described the said report as false and mischievous, saying it only exists on the imagination of the writer.

According to the statement, the state government has a clear policy of non-negotiation with terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.

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It implored media to be cautious in the way they craft and publicize security reports in the state so that it will not jeopardize the state government and security in their efforts to rescue the kidnapped children.

The statement noted that if reporter had contacted the state government, he could have been gotten the correction information, insisting, that the doors of the state government is always open for members of the press

The statement reads in full: 

“The attention of the Kaduna State Government has been drawn to an outrightly mischievous and false report in the Punch Newspaper 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 make such a move.

“The hiring of a private negotiator only exists in the fertile imagination of the Punch Newspaper 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 jeopardize the efforts of Government and security agencies in degrading criminal elements laying siege to our communities.

“If the Punch Newspaper 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.”