Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, has called on the Federal Government to give states air and ground forces to fight against banditry, kidnapping and other criminal menace.

El-Rufai made the call while declaring that his administration would not support or recognise any reconciliatory moves with bandits in the state.

The governor’s comment comes a few days after popular Kaduna-based cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, had made a move with bandits and kidnappers in the state.

Gumi had urged the federal government to grant amnesty to bandits.

However, El-Rufai while speaking on BBC Hausa Service 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.”

I will not negotiate with bandits – El-Rufai counters Sheikh Gumi