Bishop Matthew Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto has called for a thorough interrogation of individuals who claim to have close ties with bandits, stating the need for decisive action by the Federal Government to address the insecurity plaguing the northern regions of Nigeria.
While speaking in an interview with newsmen during a function in Rivers State, he expressed concern over the government’s failure to investigate those claiming connections to 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.
“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 bandits,” Kuka said on Tuesday.
His remarks come shortly after the news that influential Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi was invited for questioning by security agencies over his comments regarding the activities of bandits.
Kukah’s concern extends to the recent spate of school kidnappings, including the abduction of 137 schoolchildren in Kuriga, Kaduna State, who were recently freed from captivity.
While celebrating their release, he stated the need to consider the psychological impact of such abductions on the children.
The bishop stated the importance of collaboration between security agencies and individuals with relevant information, reiterating the government’s capacity to apprehend perpetrators of such crimes.