The Kaduna State government has dismissed a report by the Punch Newspaper alleging that the government hired private negotiators to secure the release of abducted pupils and staff of the LEA primary school, Kuriga.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the chief press secretary to Governor Uba Sani , Muhammad Lawal-Shehu, described the report as outrightly mischievous.
According to him, the government didn’t hire any negotiators and is not contemplating such a move.
The statement reads: “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 jeopardise 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 partner in progress. Our doors are always open”.
