By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah is canvassing the questioning of persons who claim close ties with bandits and wants the Federal Government to be decisive in dealing with insecurity ravaging the northern regions of the country.
Sundiata Post recalls that Bishop Kukah’s comment came after the Federal Government said security agencies had invited influential Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi for questioning over remarks about the activities of bandits.
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto said this in an interview with Channels Television on the sidelines of a function in Rivers State.
He questioned the Federal Government’s lack of interrogation of individuals claiming close ties with bandits.
“It is clear that the Federal Government at the highest level knows what is going on, at least the intelligence community has an idea,” the clergyman said on Tuesday.
“There are key Nigerians who are saying openly that they know more than they think the rest of us know, and I think that it is the business of the Federal Government to find out those who claim to know where the bandits are, those who are collaborating with the bandit.”
His comment came about a day after 137 schoolchildren abducted in Kuriga, Kaduna State, regained freedom from their captors.
While their freedom has been celebrated, Bishop Kukah is concerned with the spate of school kidnappings and is worried about the psychological effects of such abductions on the children.
He wants more collaborations between security agencies and individuals with knowledge of the situation, re-echoing the government’s capability to apprehend perpetrators of such crimes.
‘Nobody Is Above the Law’
Meanwhile, the Federal Government says security operatives have invited influential Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi for questioning over his comments about the activities of bandits.
“The security agencies are up and doing. Sheikh Gumi or any other person is not above the law. If he suggestions that are constructive enough for the security agencies to take, they will take but if they think that he is also making some statements that appear to be reckless, he will also be reprimanded,” Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris told State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja on Monday.
“There is nobody that is above the law in this regard. And I am aware he has been a guest of security agencies to answer questions. When you make remarks that border on our national security, it is incumbent on the security agencies to dig further.”
