Abducted Kaduna students’ parents defy govt, vow to negotiate with bandits
Against the stance of the Kaduna State Government, parents of the 39 abducted students of Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State have vowed to enter into negotiation with bandits to secure the release of their children.
On Sunday, the Kaduna State Government threatened to prosecute anyone caught negotiating with bandits on its behalf, maintaining its earlier position that it will not pay any ransom or negotiate with the bandits, as it was poised to ensure they are all neutralised.
But while reacting to the Kaduna State Government’s warning, Chairman of Afaka parents Association, Samuel Kambai, on Monday said the parents would do anything possible to get their children out of captivity, including negotiating with the bandits regardless of the consequences.
Sani said, “We are appealing to the government to look at it critically and help us out. Today is the 25th day that these children have been in the bush and the government by their statement; are showing less concern over the issue.
“We are going to look for a way to negotiate for the life of our children. We are not going to allow our children to continue being in the bush. We will do everything humanly possible to get them back even if we will be killed.”
Kambai spoke during a meeting at the College premises by parents of the abducted college students.
Another parent, Friday Sani, whose two children were among the abducted students, faulted the Kaduna State Government for issuing such a warning.
He stressed that such a statement by the government is capable of jeopardising the abducted students’ release.
Sani, who is also the secretary of the Afaka parents association, accused the state government of failure to fulfil its promises to secure the release of their children.
He said, “We were confident that this Easter, we will celebrate it with our children but they are just relaxed.
“The promise they gave us when we met with them is not what we are seeing.”
