The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has cautioned state governments against pursuing any peace deals with bandits.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, Musa emphasized that the Federal Government has consistently advised all levels of government not to negotiate with armed groups. He warned that bandits cannot be trusted to honour any agreements, describing such deals as dangerous, counter-productive, and a threat to national security.
“Negotiations only embolden criminal networks, weaken military operations, and prolong insecurity,” he said. “The Federal Government’s position is clear: there will be no negotiated settlements, no ransom payments, and no legitimisation of armed groups terrorising communities.”
Musa urged governors to align with federal security strategies, highlighting that sustained military pressure, intelligence-led operations, and community cooperation are the only effective ways to restore peace.
His warning comes amid growing public concern over reports of state-level peace initiatives and planned releases of suspected bandits, actions critics say undermine justice and demoralize security forces.
The minister also appealed to citizens to refrain from providing bandits with food, money, or information, stressing that such support fuels violence and delays national stability.
