By Ayomide Otitoju
The Zamfara State Government has dismissed any possibility of negotiating with bandits to restore peace in the state, emphasizing its firm stance against dialogue with criminals.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Governor Dauda Lawal’s media aide, Sulaiman Bala Idris, clarified that the governor was misquoted in an exclusive BBC Hausa interview over the weekend. Idris accused certain media platforms of mischievously mistranslating the interview to mislead the public about the government’s position.
“The issue of banditry has been a major concern in Zamfara, the Northwest, and across Nigeria for decades,” Idris stated. “Governor Lawal made security a top priority in his campaign manifesto before the 2023 general elections, and he has remained committed to that promise.”
Firm Stance Against Negotiations
Reaffirming the government’s unwavering position, Idris stated that Governor Lawal has never supported negotiating with bandits, describing such talks as a “snipe hunt.”
“It should be made clear and on record that Governor Dauda Lawal’s position remains undisputed: no responsible government will negotiate with killers from a position of weakness,” Idris said. “Negotiations should only occur from a position of strength, and only if the bandits surrender their weapons and repent unconditionally.”
Security Strategy Showing Results
According to the statement, the governor’s security strategy is yielding positive results, with many volatile areas of the state witnessing a return to peace.
“All that resonates from Zamfara is a success narrative, with leaders making progress and hundreds of bandits being eliminated daily,” Idris added.
Governor Lawal’s administration has maintained a firm security approach, rejecting past peace deals that failed to curb insecurity in Zamfara.
