Nigeria Defence Minister Rtd.General Christopher Musa has urged state governments to cease all negotiations with bandits, stating that such dialogues undermine military operations and empower criminal groups.
Musa made the call in an interview with BBC Hausa, where he said that bandits are deceitful and do not fear God, often returning to crime even after peace agreements.
Musa cited the recent release of 70 suspected bandits by the Katsina State Government as a counterproductive move, despite the state’s description of it as part of community-based peace initiatives with “repentant bandits.”
“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. “We told them in Katsina: don’t ever make the mistake of reconciling with those people, they are liars.”
He emphasized that such engagements damage ongoing security efforts. “We begged people to stop negotiating with them and the government should stop. It’s not right and they will surely come back again.”
The Defence Minister also denied that the federal government pays ransoms to kidnappers. “Paying ransom is not good. People should stop paying ransom when they kidnap people. A report should be made and actions will be taken. The federal government doesn’t pay ransom. It might be other people, and they are doing that on their own.”
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