The Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has declared that governors in the North-West region will not negotiate with bandits.

The governor made this known in Katsina State during the commissioning of the N12.6 billion, 8.1-kilometre Yandaki–Shinkafi–Kofar Sauri Road, constructed by the Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Umaru Radda.

He stated that North-West governors are united in their commitment to ending the insecurity bedevilling the region, noting that substantial resources are being invested by various state governments to tackle the menace.

“We will not negotiate with any criminal, nor will we accept any offer from them unless they surrender unconditionally,” the governor affirmed.

Governor Aliyu reassured the people of the North-West that state governments, in collaboration with security agencies, are fine-tuning strategies to bring an end to banditry and other forms of criminality in the region.

He urged residents to cooperate with the government and security agencies by exposing informants within their communities, stressing that no bandit attack occurs without some level of local collaboration.

“We must do the needful at the community level by remaining vigilant and monitoring the movement of suspicious individuals,” he added.

The governor further appealed to the people to continue praying for the success of ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity in the region and across the country.

He commended the Governor of Katsina State for pioneering the establishment of the State Community Guard to complement conventional security agencies in the fight against banditry.

“I recall that immediately after witnessing the inauguration of the Katsina State Community Guard, I returned to Sokoto and established our own Community Guard Corps,” he said.

Governor Aliyu described the initiative as impactful and capable of yielding tangible results.

He also praised Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, Chairman of the North-West APC Governors’ Forum, for providing quality leadership.