No Negotiation With Bandits

The recent declaration by Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani defending his administration’s decision to negotiate with bandits marks a dangerous turning point in Nigeria’s fight against insecurity.

While the governor’s intention to save lives is understandable, this approach represents a fundamental misconception of how to address the devastating security challenges facing the nation. With over 600,000 deaths from insecurity between May 2023 and April 2024 alone, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, the stakes could not be higher.

The northwest region, which has borne the brunt of this violence with 206,030 deaths, stands as a stark reminder of the failure of previous negotiation attempts.

Governor Sani’s assertion that “only the victims’ families will understand” the decision to negotiate overlooks a crucial fact: giving legitimacy to criminal elements through dialogue inevitably leads to more victims, more grieving families, and a weaker state apparatus.

The contrasting stance taken by neighboring Katsina State, where Governor Dikko Umar Radda has firmly ruled out negotiations with bandits, demonstrates the kind of resolute leadership needed in these trying times. History has shown repeatedly that attempting to bargain with criminal elements only emboldens them and compromises the state’s authority.

The 2016 “special pardon” granted to cattle rustlers in Katsina State serves as a cautionary tale – after a brief period of relative peace, the pardoned criminals, now evolved into more sophisticated bandits, resumed their reign of terror with renewed vigour.

Negotiating with bandits presents multiple perils that extend far beyond the immediate tactical considerations. First, it bestows undeserved legitimacy upon criminal elements, elevating them to the status of political actors worthy of state recognition. This transformation from outlaws to negotiating partners sends a devastating message to both law-abiding citizens and potential criminals: that violence is a viable path to achieving political objectives.

Second, such negotiations gravely undermine the morale and effectiveness of our security forces. How can we expect our military personnel to risk their lives fighting these criminals when the same criminals might be granted amnesty through political deals? It is particularly insensitive to the widows of fallen soldiers and the families who have lost loved ones to banditry. Each handshake with a bandit leader dishonors their sacrifices.

Third, the argument that negotiation saves lives ignores the longer-term consequences of legitimising criminal behavior. While it might temporarily reduce casualties in one area, it inevitably leads to increased violence elsewhere as other criminal groups seek similar recognition. This creates a vicious cycle where violence becomes an increasingly attractive path to achieving political and economic objectives.

Nigeria’s improvement in the Global Terrorism Index,demonstrates that progress is possible through legitimate security operations. This progress should encourage us to strengthen our resolve against criminality, not weaken it through misguided negotiations.

In the considered opinion of this newspaper,the path forward requires a comprehensive strategy that addresses both the immediate security challenges and the underlying socio-economic factors that fuel insurgency.

Success in this fight demands enhanced intelligence gathering and sharing among security agencies, coupled with strengthened border security to prevent the flow of arms and criminals. Moreover, there must be improved coordination between federal and state security operations to ensure a unified response to threats.

The government must also make strategic investments in education and economic opportunities in vulnerable communities, while simultaneously pursuing the modernisation of military equipment and training. Equally crucial is the robust prosecution of apprehended criminals to demonstrate that the law will take its course.

The suggestion by bandit leader Bello Turji to enter into negotiations should be roundly rejected. Nigeria cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past where such dialogues have only served to give criminals breathing space to regroup and strengthen their operations.

At this critical juncture, Nigeria needs unwavering leadership that understands the existential threat posed by legitimising criminal elements through negotiation. While the immediate appeal of dialogue as a quick fix to security challenges is understandable, it represents a dangerous misconception of state power and responsibility.

The government’s primary duty is to protect its citizens through the legitimate use of force against criminal elements, not to negotiate with them. Every negotiation with bandits erodes the state’s authority and makes the task of maintaining law and order more difficult in the long run.

As we advance, the focus must remain on strengthening our security apparatus, improving intelligence gathering, and addressing the root causes of insurgency through legitimate means. Negotiating with bandits is not just a tactical error – it is a strategic failure that threatens the very foundation of our nation’s security and sovereignty.

The military’s ongoing operations against bandits must not only continue but be intensified. In this existential fight against criminality, surrender cannot be an option.