By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Kaduna State government, has denied report by a national daily that it hired a private negotiator to facilitate the release of the recently abducted school children in the state, describing it as false and mischievous.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Muhammad Lawal Shehu, which debunked the report, Saturday stressed that government did not hired anybody or contemplating doing so as speculated.
”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 jeopardize 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 partners in progress. Our doors are always open.” the statement added
