No Negotiation With Bandits, Defence Minister Tells Governors

The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to state governments against entering into any form of peace agreement with bandits, declaring such moves dangerous, counter-productive, and a direct threat to Nigeria's national security architecture.

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), made the Federal Government's position unequivocally clear during an interview with BBC Hausa, stressing that negotiations with armed criminal groups only embolden violence, undermine military operations, and prolong insecurity across the country.

According to Musa, the Federal Government has consistently advised all tiers of government to refrain from negotiating, paying ransom, or legitimising armed groups responsible for terrorising communities, particularly in the North-West and parts of the North-Central regions.

"The Federal Government's position is clear. There will be no negotiated settlements, no ransom payments, and no legitimisation of armed groups terrorising communities,ÔÇØ the Defence Minister stated.

He warned that bandits cannot be trusted to honour agreements, noting that past experiences have shown that dialogue with criminal networks often leads to renewed attacks, increased recruitment, and greater sophistication in criminal operations.

Musa further urged state governors to align strictly with the Federal Government's security strategy, emphasizing that the only viable route to lasting peace remains sustained military pressure, intelligence-driven operations, and active community cooperation.

The Defence Minister's comments come amid growing public outrage over reports of state-level peace initiatives, including alleged plans by some state governments to release suspected or convicted bandits-moves critics argue undermine justice, demoralise security personnel, and weaken public confidence in the rule of law.

Particularly troubling are reports that the Katsina State Government has allegedly initiated processes aimed at the release of about 70 suspected and convicted bandits, a development that has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed debate over Nigeria's counter-insurgency strategy.

Beyond government actions, Musa also issued a strong appeal to citizens, warning against providing bandits with food, money, shelter, or intelligence, stressing that such assistance-whether coerced or voluntary-fuels violence and delays national stability.

He reiterated that community collaboration with security agencies is critical, noting that criminal networks thrive where fear, silence, and complicity persist.

As insecurity continues to challenge several regions, the Defence Minister's warning underscores the Federal Government's resolve to pursue a hardline security approach, rejecting dialogue with armed groups while intensifying efforts to dismantle criminal networks through coordinated military and intelligence operations.