Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has urged bandits wreaking havoc in the North-West and North-Central states to release all victims in their custody.
Gumi’s media aide, Malam Salisu Hassan, disclosed ethe Sheikh stated this during his Ramadan Tafsir sermon at the Sultan Bello mosque in Kaduna State.
Hassan, on Thursday said that he did not know why despite the Sheikh’s appeal, the bandits still continued to strike and abduct more victims.
“Honestly, I don’t know. But Sheikh is aware. In his sermons, he always appeals to them to stop this kind of barbaric action that they are doing. About two days ago, he personally called on them to please release all those who were in their possession. He stated this at the Sultan Bello Mosque, Kaduna State, where he made his Ramadan Tafsir,” Hassan said.
Despite appealing to them early enough, the bandits did not only refuse to release their captives, they attacked a private university, Greenfield University at Kasarami, off the Kaduna-Abuja Road in the Chikun Local Government Area (LGA).
A staff member of the university, Paul Ude Okafor, was confirmed to have been killed by the bandits, while a number of students were kidnapped.
On same Wednesday, bandits also attacked Zazzaga community in the Munya Local Government Area of Niger State.
Meanwhile, more than 200 communities in the Shiroro LGA are now under the control of bandits as the criminals walk freely in their localities, according to reports.
