The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial candidate in Kaduna State, Isah Ashiru Kudan, has said that to properly tackle banditry and kidnapping in the State, his government will engage the perpetrators in dialogue, noting that they are human beings, and not monsters.
Kudan stated this during a chat on a television programme on issues concerning his party’s chances ahead of the March 11 Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
The PDP candidate faulted some of the policies of the incumbent governor, Nasir el-Rufa’i, including sacking of some traditional rulers, adding that such decision worsened security situation in the State.
Kudan further stated that if he became the governor of the State, he would negotiate with bandits to ensure a long-lasting solution to the state’s security menace.
According to him, “We have to engage these people involved in banditry and kidnapping. They are people living among us. People are thinking that they are monsters, they are not. We can sit with them, discuss, and bring this menace to an end.
“The problem in Kaduna is disturbing. Come to Kaduna and see; people are not sleeping with their eyes closed. If we really want to get this (banditry) out of our society, there has to be an engagement with these people to make sure that whatever is their problem is addressed”, he stated.
