The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has called on state governments across Nigeria to stop negotiating with bandits, saying such talks are harming the work of the military and encouraging criminal activities.
Musa made this statement during an interview with BBC Hausa, where he spoke openly about the ongoing security challenges in the country, especially in the North-West and parts of the North-Central regions. According to him, negotiating with bandits is not a solution and only gives criminals more confidence to continue their attacks.
The defence minister said bandits do not fear God and cannot be trusted to keep any agreement reached with government officials or community leaders. He warned that many of these criminals only use peace talks as an opportunity to gain benefits, regroup, and later return to violence.
“Negotiation with bandits is not a way out. Those people are not real. Whenever they come for reconciliation, they need something,” Musa said in the Hausa language.
Nigeria has been battling banditry, kidnapping, and armed attacks for more than a decade, especially in states like Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, and Sokoto. Thousands of people have been killed, while many others have been kidnapped or forced to flee their homes. Farmlands have also been abandoned, worsening food insecurity in the country.
Over the years, some state governments have adopted dialogue and negotiation as a way to reduce violence. These talks are often described as peace or reconciliation agreements with so-called “repentant bandits.” In some cases, bandits are offered incentives such as money, amnesty, or vocational support in exchange for laying down their arms.
However, Musa strongly criticised this approach, saying it has failed repeatedly and has only weakened security efforts.
He referred specifically to Katsina State, where the government recently facilitated the release of 70 suspected bandits who were in custody. The Katsina State Government said the move was part of efforts to strengthen community-led peace agreements in some local government areas.
But the defence minister said the federal authorities had warned the Katsina government against such actions.
“What’s happening in Katsina, we told them, don’t ever make the mistake of reconciling with those people. They are liars,” Musa said.
According to him, many bandits who claim to repent eventually return to crime, sometimes with more weapons and stronger networks.
“We begged people to stop negotiating with them and the government should stop. It’s not right and they will surely come back again. They don’t fear God,” he added.
Musa explained that negotiations with bandits make the work of the military more difficult. He said while soldiers are risking their lives to fight criminals, negotiations send the wrong message and reduce the impact of military operations.
“We already informed them it damages our work. We asked them to stop. You know it’s democracy now, not military rule. But we are in talks with them,” he said.
The defence minister’s comments highlight the ongoing tension between federal security agencies and some state governments over how best to address insecurity. While the military prefers a strong force-based approach, some state leaders believe dialogue is necessary to bring peace to affected communities.
In the past, similar peace deals have been attempted in Zamfara and other states, with mixed results. While violence sometimes reduced briefly, attacks often resumed after a short period. Critics argue that such deals reward criminal behaviour and discourage law-abiding citizens.
Musa also addressed the sensitive issue of ransom payments. Kidnapping for ransom has become a major business for bandits, with victims ranging from schoolchildren to farmers, traders, and travellers.
The defence minister denied claims that the federal government pays ransom to kidnappers.
“Paying ransom is not good. People should stop paying ransom when they kidnap people. Report should be made and actions will be taken,” he said.
He stressed that the federal government does not pay ransom and warned that paying kidnappers only encourages them to continue their crimes.
“Federal government doesn’t pay for ransom. It might be other people and they are doing that on their own,” Musa added.
Despite this position, families of kidnapped victims often say they have no choice but to pay ransom to secure the release of their loved ones, especially when they feel government response is slow or uncertain.
Musa’s comments come at a time when Nigerians are demanding stronger action against insecurity. Many communities in the North-West live in fear, with frequent attacks on villages, highways, and farmlands. Schools have been closed in some areas due to the risk of mass abductions.
The federal government has increased military operations in affected regions, deploying more troops and equipment. However, the size of the problem and the difficult terrain have made total victory challenging.
Musa’s call for an end to negotiations is likely to spark debate, especially among state governments that believe dialogue has helped reduce violence in their areas.
However, the defence minister insists that lasting peace can only be achieved by confronting criminals firmly and refusing to legitimise their actions through negotiations.
As Nigeria continues to search for solutions to its security crisis, Musa’s comments underline the government’s growing frustration with banditry and its determination to take a tougher stand against armed groups.