The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has reacted to comment by Governor Bello Mutawalle of Zamfara State, claiming that Nigerians would be shocked if he reveals the identity of those behind the abduction of over 300 school girls at Government Girls’ Secondary School, Jangebe.
The ACF said if Matawalle truly knows something no one else knows regarded the activities of bandits in the State, he should let the world know, even if saying it would cause the heavens to come crashing down.
The ACF said it is not comfortable with the Governor's statement especially if what he claims to know is as shocking as he claims. It therefore, call on the governor to shock Nigerians by disclosing the information.
Speaking in a statement issued and signed by the National Chairman Chief Audu Ogbe said, it said “We ask the governor to reveal their identity and let Nigerians be shocked or even the heavens fall.
“We also ask the security agencies to question the governor on the identifies of the criminals he is trying to hide. If he refuses to disclose their identities, he must be treated as an accomplice to the criminal act of kidnapping.
“The ACF has been embarrassed by the spate of kidnappings especially of school children spreading like wild fire all over the north. People in positions of authority that will help us out of this mess like Governor Mutawalle must stop embarrassing the north and country with careless statements on a serious issue like the kidnappings of school children.
“Zamfara State and the north are way behind the rest of the country in educational development. The serial kidnappings of school pupils in the north will only worsen a bad and unacceptable state of education in the North” ACF maintained.
Matawalle had said, “As we await the arrival of the released kidnapped students of GSSS Jangebe at the Government House today, I want to inform you that there are many revelations in relation to the abduction of these students.”
“Many people will be surprised to hear those people behind the abduction of these innocent children.”
“They are not comfortable with the progress I am getting as a result of my peace initiative and they want to do all they can to sabotage my efforts”.
“I will insha Allah succeed at the end of the day and they will bury their faces in shame,” said the governor.