Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has said that the state government does not support or recognised any reconciliatory move with criminals in the state.

DAILY NIGERIAN reports that Mr El-Rufai’s comment is coming just as the Kaduna-based cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, had launched a reconciliatory effort with bandits and kidnappers in the state.

Recently viral pictures had earlier shown Mr Gumi interfacing with suspected bandits terrorising the North-western states.

But whiles speaking with the BBC Hausa Service, Governor El-Rufai said that his government does not welcome any reconciliation with the kidnappers, insisting that the Federal Government must give state governments the air and ground forces to fight the menace.

He said: “If the Federal Government does not give us the air and ground forces, these forests are invaded and these terrorists are killed at the same time, then we will continue to be in trouble.”

“We in Kaduna are cooperating with Niger State. The governor of the state calls from time to time to gather information. We are doing things with them.”