KDSG DEBUNKS A NEWSPAPER REPORT THAT IT HIRED A PRIVATE NEGOTIATOR TO MEDIATE RELEASE OF ABDUCTORS 09-03-24
By Sadiq Aminu Kaduna State government has discribed a report of particular newspaper that it hired a private negotiator to facilitate the safe return of school children abducted in Kuriga community, Chikun Local Government of Kaduna State as false and mischievous.
A Statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mohammed Lawal Shehu says the State Government has a clear policy on non-negotiation with terrorists, bandits and other criminal elements.
The statement urges 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 the communities.
According to him, If the Newspaper had made efforts to contact the Kaduna State Government, they would have gotten the correct information, revealing that journalist are their partners in progress.
“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 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”