After several failed attempts by previous administrations in Zamfara and Katsina states to end bloodshed in their jurisdictions by negotiating with bandits, Senator Sani Yerima Bakura has called on the government to initiate a fresh dialogue with the bandits terrorising the North West region.

In an interview with BBC Hausa service, monitored by The Guardian, yesterday, the former governor of Zamfara State argued that if the bandits were treated like former militants in the Niger Delta region, the problem of banditry could be overcome. He emphasised that engaging in dialogue with bandits was the solution to the prevailing insecurity in the North West region of the country.

According to him, previous dialogues entered into with the bandits by the state governors were not conducted in good faith. He said that he personally monitored previous dialogues and discovered that most promises made to the bandits were not fulfilled.

Yerima highlighted that during his tenure as governor, the only security challenge the state faced was arm robbery, adding that with the commitment of the security agencies, the issue was effectively tackled.

He noted that the current problem could be addressed if the bandits are approached afresh and the government sincerely empowers them, as was done to the ex-agitators in the Niger Delta.

He added: “I’m advising the government to, first of all, find time to sit with these bandits, just like they sat with Niger Delta militants in the past, because a majority of them are Nigerians, even though there are some foreigners among them. “

But Nigerians among them can be convinced, as the Niger Delta militants were convinced, and empowered to stop. If that fails, then the government can use force on them wherever they are.”

Yerima stated that he firmly believes that Nigerian security agencies, with adequate support, possess the capability to handle the security situation in the country, adding that they have all the necessary resources to do so.

He identified ignorance and poverty as the driving factors behind people resorting to banditry, emphasising that only illiterate individuals would take up arms and kill innocent people.

The senator, therefore, noted that poverty and ignorance were responsible for most of the crises and problems in the country, emphasising the need for leaders to find solutions to these challenges.

He further criticised political leaders who, instead of addressing people’s problems, choose to embezzle billions from public coffers for their own benefits.

He appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the new government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, assuring them that positive changes would be witnessed before the end of his tenure.

(The Guardian)

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