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Recently, the former Zamfara State governor, Sani Yerima, enjoined President Bola Tinubu to negotiate with bandits operating in Zamfara State and other parts of the North-West region. The Senator, who stated this in Abuja, argued that the negotiation would lead to granting the bandits amnesty in the same way the administration of former President Umaru Yar’Adua granted amnesty to the militants in the then restive Niger Delta region. Yerima also opined that the move would guarantee lasting peace in the North-West region.
Although the Nigerian military and other security agencies have the capacity to deal with the bandits squarely, Yerima points out that the collateral damage in moving against them with force, may be high and devastating. The insecurity in the North-West region and other parts of the country is largely driven by poverty and illiteracy.
The recommendation has the endorsement of a support group, the Progressive League of Youth Voters, which maintains that kinetic measures against the bandits all the years have not yielded the desired results. Another group, the Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives’ Union (BEPU), has however appealed to President Tinubu to disregard the calls made by Senator Yerima and others calling for negotiation with the terrorists, arguing that those making the call showed lack of understanding of the nature of bandits and their goals which had led to widespread destruction, loss of lives and destabilisation in the country.
Yerima’s proposal is not new in the region. In 2021, Zamfara caucus in the National Assembly called on the federal government to grant amnesty to repentant bandits in the country. The lawmakers said the call was a peace initiative that would allow repentant bandits to voluntarily surrender their arms and ammunition in return for government patronages such as stipends, vocational training and job opportunities.
Some state governors in the region had negotiated with the terrorists in the past, but these deals were soon disregarded by the outlaws. In 2014, erstwhile governor of Zamfara, Abdulaziz Yari, granted amnesty to the bandits. It did not take time before they dumped the agreement. Immediate past governor of the same Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, equally granted amnesty to the criminal gangs but none of the deals survived the test of time. In 2016, a former governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, negotiated with the bandits in his domain but the hoodlums soon reneged on their pledge to turn a new leaf. While we acknowledge Yerima’s desire to end the banditry in Zamfara State and other parts of the North-West region, we do not believe that granting them amnesty will end it. It is also worth pointing out that the case of the Niger Delta militants before Yar’Adua gave them amnesty is quite different from the Zamfara bandits. The Niger Delta activism was in reaction to the environmental devastation of the region by oil production activities. What the bandits are doing in the North-West is a clear case of criminality. They do not have any identifiable cause. Their actions have serious implications for the peace and unity of the country.
Moreover, banditry is a serious security issue that should be handled without sentiments or partisan advocacy. The government should not treat criminals with kid gloves. Let the military go after the bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and crush them. It is sad that banditry has become a multi-million dollar trade. In the last quarter of 2022, Zamfara State recorded 1,090 abductions. The bandits can kill their victims if ransom is not paid.
According Global Rights, a civil society organisation, between January and March 2023, no fewer than 1,230 persons were killed, including 79 security personnel, and over 658 abductions took place across the country. Banditry was identified as the biggest cause of violent deaths across the country with 29.27 per cent (360 deaths) within the period.
Based on their violent nature, it is believed that some of the bandits are likely to be members of the Boko Haram insurgent group. In January 2022, the federal government declared bandits as terrorists. The action followed a declaration by a Federal High Court in Abuja which branded them terrorists. Therefore, the bandits are criminals that should be treated accordingly. No responsible government will ever negotiate with criminals.
Extending amnesty to the bandits will further embolden them and make others to take to criminality. At the same time, the bandits should not be rewarded with undeserved pardon. The law should rather be allowed to take its course. Let government not succumb to the call for amnesty to the bandits. Repentant bandits should be rehabilitated.
