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Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, former Secretary to the Government of Katsina State and current Chairman of the Amnesty Programme aimed at ending banditry, has opposed calls for President Tinubu to negotiate with bandits, citing the futility of such talks. According to Dr.

Inuwa, the bandits are unlikely to abandon their illicit activities due to the lucrative profits they gain from kidnappings.

In his statement, Dr. Inuwa emphasized that the bandits cannot be persuaded to embrace negotiations as no legitimate work can offer them the same financial gains as their criminal activities….CONTINUE READING

He argued that force may be the only effective approach to confront the banditry issue and urged security agencies and affected state governors to unite their efforts in dealing with the problem.

Dr. Inuwa recalled past attempts from 2017 to 2019 when a non-kinetic approach was adopted but failed due to the insincerity of the bandits and their lack of cohesive leadership.

He warned against negotiating with various splinter groups, which could potentially exacerbate the problem, considering new groups continue to emerge.

The former Secretary stressed that negotiating with criminals who are used to obtaining substantial sums of money through kidnappings would be impractical and could even lead to more arms purchases. Instead, he urged a sustained and coordinated military operation involving ground and air efforts to dismantle the bandits’ networks.

Dr. Inuwa highlighted that the majority of these bandits are local Fulani, making them easily identifiable, and the terrain is accessible for operations.

He proposed that state governors collaborate and take unified positions to undermine the strength of the bandits, such as banning motorcycle use and restricting fuel purchases in certain areas.

Regarding the historical context, Dr. Inuwa pointed out that banditry has been present in the region for a long time, dating back to the colonial period, but has recently become more rampant.

He emphasized that due to its deep-rooted nature, force is the only feasible solution to compel the bandits to abandon their criminal ways.

Dr. Inuwa suggested that any consideration of amnesty or negotiation should only come after the bandits have been subdued by security operations and if they themselves request it.

He warned against the government initiating negotiations, as the current financial gains of the bandits would make them reluctant to listen.

In conclusion, Dr. Inuwa stressed the urgency of addressing the banditry issue through a united and forceful approach to alleviate the suffering of people in affected areas and put an end to the activities of these criminal groups.