Still On Negotiation With Bandits

Former Zamfara State Governor Ahmed Yerima’s recent recommendation that dialogue should be initiated with bandits as a means to end insurgency in Nigeria has sparked a heated debate.

While it is crucial to explore all possible solutions to address the security crisis in the country, the idea of negotiating with violent criminals should be approached with extreme caution.

We have previously argued on this page that the government should resist the temptation to engage in dialogue with bandits, as doing so would set a dangerous precedent, undermine the rule of law, and risk the safety and well-being of Nigerian citizens. We still stand by our previous position.

According to data sourced from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and National Security Tracker (NST), analyzed by TheCable Index, 4,545 people were killed by non-state actors, while 4,611 others were kidnapped in 2022.

Further analysis by TheCable Index revealed that an average of 12 people were killed and 13 people were kidnapped daily in violent attacks reported in the media from January to December 2022.

The report observed that Niger, Zamfara, Kaduna, Benue, and Plateau states accounted for 40 percent of the reported killings in the period under review. In a country not yet officially at war, these figures are scary.

Niger recorded the highest number of reported killings with 604, followed by Zamfara with 565 deaths. Kaduna had 507 deaths, and Benue recorded 333 deaths.

Also, a security report by Nigeria Mourn, a violent incidents tracking organisation in Nigeria, has revealed that no fewer than 1,151 civilians and 79 security operatives were killed in the first quarter (Q1) of 2023. It also said over 658 abductions were recorded across the country within the period under review.

Indeed, Nigeria, as a sovereign nation, must uphold the rule of law and demonstrate that criminal activities will not be rewarded with concessions or impunity.

Dialogue with bandits would send the wrong message to the populace and create a perception that violence and criminality can be used to achieve political or pecuniary goals.

It is essential to prioritise national security by focusing on intelligence gathering, strengthening the military, and enhancing law enforcement capabilities to tackle insurgency effectively.

In the considered opinion of this newspaper, engaging in dialogue with bandits would bestow a level of legitimacy upon these criminal elements, portraying them as political actors deserving of recognition and negotiation.

It would also undermine the efforts of security agencies and encourage more individuals to take up arms, in the hope of receiving the same treatment. This approach would further embolden bandits and perpetuate a vicious cycle of violence and lawlessness in the country.

Taking up the dialogue and concession option can also show insensitivity to the security operatives at the front lines who sometimes pay the ultimate price, their widows, and families of other people who have lost their loved ones, or have been displaced by the insurgency and banditry.

Besides, granting amnesty to bandits, cattle rustlers, or kidnappers has shown that it is not a permanent solution to insecurity in the affected areas.

Historically, negotiations with insurgent groups have often yielded limited success. Bandits and other criminal elements often exploit such opportunities to buy time, regroup, and strengthen their operations.

An example is when the Katsina State Government in 2016 granted “special pardon” to cattle rustlers who dropped their arms and embraced peace. For some time, the state experienced peace, but like the proverbial Oliver Twist, the cattle rustlers transformed into bandits and resumed their violent activities against the people.

Moreover, these negotiations rarely address the root causes of insurgency, such as poverty, unemployment, and lack of good governance. Instead, they offer short-term, temporary solutions that fail to address the long-standing issues that fuel violence and extremism.

There is no trifling with the fact that our security agencies have been overwhelmed by the magnitude of the security challenges. There is virtually no zone in the country that is not afflicted by one security challenge or another.

In our view, instead of negotiations, the government should adopt a comprehensive strategy to tackle insurgency and other violent crimes.

This approach should focus on strengthening intelligence gathering, enhancing border security, disrupting funding channels, and improving socio-economic conditions in vulnerable communities.

Negotiating with bandits also undermines the principle of justice and accountability. It is essential to prosecute criminals and ensure they face the consequences of their actions. Allowing bandits to evade justice through negotiation would erode public trust in the state’s justice delivery system.

Instead, the government should prioritise the apprehension, prosecution, and punishment of those involved in criminal activities, to send a clear message that crime will not be tolerated.

In view of the foregoing, while the suggestion of negotiating with bandits may appear enticing as a quick fix to Nigeria’s insurgency problem, it is fraught with peril and is not a viable long-term solution.

The government must remain steadfast in upholding the rule of law, ensuring national security, and protecting its citizens from the outlaws.