Why I Am Against Negotiating With Bandits — El-Rufai

El-Rufai stated this while reacting to the release of 27 students of Federal College of Forestry, Afaka in an interview organised by the African leadership group.

The Kaduna State Governor while speaking at the webinar hosted by the Pastor of Trinity House Church, Ituah lghodalo, noted that the Air Force and Army had assured of the strategy they were going to use.

He added that the rejection of negotiation does not mean they were not doing anything, insisting that military force would be used in rescuing abductees.

“We’re not just saying we’ll not negotiate with bandits, we try to track them, engage them using military force.

“We know it’s risky, we know in the process we may lose some of the students,” he said.

He added that the Army had information about the location of the students before they were released.

According to him, the military had to change their rescue plan when the bandits shifted base at the last moment.

The governor further explained that the strategy was that while the Air Force would strike from the air, the Army would engage them on the ground.

“We’re going to attack them, we may lose a few students, but will attack the bandits and recover some of the students, that is our plans and that’s the plan of the army,” he said.

He said they were circled before the bandits shifted through the cordon of the army, which was the reason why they were not engaged before the students were released.

In another development, the presidency has confirmed the attack on the residence of the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Professor Ibrahim Gambari.

Presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu confirmed the attack in a Twitter statement on Monday night.