The reactions of Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, and the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to the peace deal initiated by Ahmad Gumi, a prominent Islamic cleric, with bandits made the headlines of several Nigerian newspapers on Tuesday.

The governor said his administration will not hold talks with bandits, adding that any bandit arrested in the state will be killed.

El-Rufai’s position was supported by Sanni Bello, governor of Niger state, Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Civil Liberty Organisations and Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), but the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) disagreed with him.

Also, IPOB warned Gumi not to equate agitators for Biafra and Oduduwa republics with “Fulani bandits rampaging the north and ravaging the entire south”.