As insecurity continues to grip Nigeria’s Northwest, the repeated failures of negotiation with bandits have become a painful reminder that appeasement is not a viable strategy. Over the years, several state governments, desperate to end the cycle of violence, have entered into peace deals with bandit leaders, offering them financial incentives, land, and even amnesty. Yet, these efforts have yielded little success, with banditry only growing more sophisticated and ruthless.
In Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto, multiple governors have experimented with peace talks, hoping that dialogue would dissuade armed groups from their deadly activities. However, each agreement has been met with betrayal. In some cases, bandits accepted government incentives only to return to their criminal ways, using resources meant for reintegration to procure more weapons and expand their networks.
A resident of Dansadau in Zamfara, who lost his entire family to an attack just weeks after a ceasefire agreement, expressed his frustration: “We were told to embrace peace, to allow negotiations, but what happened? They came back and wiped out my entire village. These criminals do not want peace; they want power.”
Security analysts argue that the problem lies in the fundamental nature of the banditry crisis. Unlike insurgents driven by ideological beliefs, bandits are purely opportunistic criminals, thriving on ransom payments, looting, and illegal mining. Any negotiation only emboldens them, reinforcing their perception that the government is weak and willing to compromise.
Former security officials have disclosed that some state-backed negotiations went as far as providing financial support for bandits under the guise of community development, yet the violence never ceased. “We tried everything—dialogue, amnesty, even offering them skill acquisition programs—but none of it worked,” a retired intelligence officer lamented. “They saw our goodwill as a weakness.”
In the past year, military operations have ramped up, targeting key bandit hideouts in forests across the Northwest. While these efforts have disrupted some criminal activities, analysts warn that inconsistent policies and political interference have weakened the fight against banditry. “You cannot be fighting criminals in one hand while negotiating with them on the other,” a security expert stated. “It’s time for a clear, firm policy—no negotiations, no settlements, just decisive action.”
Many communities affected by banditry now believe that military intervention, coupled with strong judicial measures, is the only way to restore peace. With thousands of people displaced, businesses ruined, and rural economies crippled, the demand for a firm and coordinated security response has never been more urgent.
As Nigeria faces yet another crossroad in its security challenges, one thing is clear: negotiation with bandits has failed, and without firm action, the country risks further descent into lawlessness.
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