Zamfara Governor Threatens to Name FG Officials Involved in Secret Meeting With Bandits, Defence Minister Denies Allegations

The governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has threatened to expose the Federal Government official who allegedly held secret meetings with some bandit groups in the state.

In the wake of students’ abduction in the Federal University, Gusau, the governor accused some federal government officials of allegedly holding secret negotiations with bandit groups in the state.

Governor Lawal, in a statement by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Suleiman Idris, said the move was undermining his kinetic resolve to stamp out banditry in the state.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has asked the Zamfara State Government to stop peddling rumours that the federal government is negotiating with the bandits.

the Acting Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Defence, Attari Hope, made this known in a statement today.

The defence minister said contrary to the claim, the federal government is working assiduously to ensure that the students of the Federal University Gusau and other abductees return home safely.

The minister said that the allegation is false and misleading as the Ministry has not mandated anybody or any group to negotiate on behalf of the Federal Government.

He also said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given marching orders to the Military and other security agencies to ensure the release of those who were abducted.

He said that the order of President Tinubu has started yielding results as 13 of the abducted students and three others regained freedom on Monday, adding that the feat was achieved through the professional efforts of the military.

He condoled with the families of the girls and others who were abducted, stating that he shared in the pain and strongly condemned the reprehensible act carried out by bandits.

The minister expressed confidence that the joint security task forces deployed after the bandits would rescue the remaining abductees and bring them home safely.

In another statement of response today, the Governor insisted that he had evidence to back up his claim.

He added that the minister should have conducted a thorough investigation before discrediting the state government.