The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Rev. Fr. Matthew Kukah, has urged the federal government to interrogate persons who claim to have close ties with bandits.
Bishop Kukah stated this in an interview with Channels Television on the sidelines of the convocation of Madonna University at the weekend.
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.
“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.”
His comment came before 137 schoolchildren abducted in Kuriga, Kaduna State, regained freedom from their captors.
Bishop Kukah expressed concern with the spate of school kidnappings across schools in the country, adding that the abduction could have psychological impact on the children.
He called for more collaborations between security agencies and individuals with knowledge of the situation.
Days after his comment, the Federal Government said security operatives had 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.”