Retired Commissioner of Police and security consultant, Emmanuel Ojukwu, has criticised ongoing negotiations between some state governments and bandit groups, warning that such peace deals were unsustainable and may further embolden criminals.
Ojukwu, who spoke on Monday night on Channels Television, was reacting to reports that state officials reached agreement with armed groups terrorising rural communities.
According to the terms of the dialogue, the bandits agreed to halt killings and release abducted villagers in exchange for free movement and access to local markets.
Some of the most notorious gang leaders reportedly attended the meetings armed.
Dismissing the arrangement, Ojukwu argued that the motive of the bandits goes beyond grievances to a quest for “money and power.”
“It cannot be sustained because the motive of the bandits is money and power. They want to show that they can dare where angels fear to tread, and that they can subdue government. They keep getting more and more money and doing virtually nothing with it. When you keep pandering to their wishes, trying to beg them, you are only reinforcing bad behaviour,” he said.
The one-time police spokesman noted that while security forces have deployed boots on the ground, the absence of clear dividends has left communities in confusion.
He lamented that many of the criminals have now been integrated into rural societies.
“The presence these terrorists have in communities is disturbing. They share part of the bargains, live within the people, and are even given titles and pride of place. Over time, this abnormality has become normal. In some areas, if there’s no banditry, people think something is wrong,” Ojukwu added.
Calling for a “holistic approach” to tackling insecurity, Ojukwu urged government to cut off the lifelines sustaining the criminal networks and demonstrate stronger resolve.
“We must remove the victims, stop oxygen from getting to these people, and show that government has the teeth to bite—and to bite forcefully,” he warned.
He added, “We cannot keep reinforcing bad behaviours.”
