The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has asked the Zamfara State Government to stop peddling rumours that the federal government is negotiating with the bandits.

The Acting Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Defence, Attari Hope, made this known in a statement on Tuesday.

On Monday, Lawal had claimed that some agencies of the Bola Tinubu-led government had entered a secret dialogue with the bandits after he ruled out the option of negotiating with criminals.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, the governor said some government agencies engaged in negotiations with bandits without the knowledge of the state government and other security agencies.

Lawal, therefore, called for an urgent and comprehensive investigation by the Tinubu government into the secretive negotiations held with bandits in the state by the agencies.

However, Badaru said contrary to the claim, the federal government is working assiduously to ensure that the students of the Federal University Gusau and other abductees return home safely.

The minister said that the allegation is false and misleading as the Ministry has not mandated anybody or any group to negotiate on behalf of the Federal Government.

Badaru said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given marching orders to the Military and other security agencies to ensure the release of those who were abducted.

He said that the order of President Tinubu has started yielding results as 13 of the abducted students and three others regained freedom on Monday, adding that the feat was achieved through the professional efforts of the military.

He condoled with the families of the girls and others who were abducted, stating that he shared in the pain and strongly condemned the reprehensible act carried out by bandits.

The minister expressed confidence that the joint security task forces deployed after the bandits would rescue the remaining abductees and bring them home safely.