The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has urged state governments to stop negotiating with bandits, warning that such engagements undermine the operations of the Nigerian military. Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, Musa said bandits are unreliable and often renege on agreements reached with them, stressing that negotiations only embolden criminal groups. He disclosed that the Katsina State Government had been cautioned over its recent move to facilitate the release of 70 suspected bandits, which the state described as part of community-driven peace agreements with “repentant bandits” in some local government areas.
“Negotiation with bandits is not a way out, those people are not real, whenever they come for reconciliation, they need something,” Musa said in Hausa. “What’s happening in Katsina we told them, don’t ever make the mistake of reconciling with those people, they are liars.” He added, “We begged people to stop negotiating with them and the government should stop. It’s not right and they will surely come back again. They don’t fear God.” The defence minister also dismissed claims that the Federal Government pays ransom to kidnappers, saying, “Federal government doesn’t pay for ransom. It might be other people and they are doing that on their own,” while urging citizens to report kidnappings rather than make payments.