While other state leaders and even the FG are being urged to put a stop to negotiating and making deals with terrorists, Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State points to local peace deals as a path to stability,
Governor Dikko Radda recently pointed to the Danburum forest in Batsari Local Council as proof that local peace initiatives are working. Once a deadly haven for bandits, he stated the area has become peaceful enough for him to drive through, with farming activities resuming.
Radda cited concrete metrics to support his claim, noting a drastic reduction in state spending on victims. He reported that a government agency spent under ₦2 million in November 2025 on medical bills, compared to over ₦40 million monthly in the past. He also reported a significant drop in security incident reports, telling communities, "in the last few days, I have not received one single incident... like I had been receiving".
The Controversial History of "Peace Deals"
The governor's comments tap into a long and contentious history of negotiations in Nigeria's northwest. Similar deals have repeatedly collapsed, with bandits using them to regroup and rearm. Experts argue these agreements often lack structure, fail to address root causes like poverty, and risk legitimizing violence.
A core problem is the fragmented nature of bandit groups. Unlike organized insurgencies, they are loose criminal networks where a deal with one commander does not bind others. Furthermore, communities are often forced into these arrangements out of desperation, with one security source noting, "When government presence is weak, they will negotiate survival on their own".
A Contrasting Strategy: Military Reinforcement
In stark contrast to the negotiation approach, other governors are advocating for a military solution. Following deadly attacks, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has publicly condemned banditry and called directly on President Bola Tinubu to deploy more soldiers to his state.
This hardline stance responds to intense pressure from citizens. In Kwara, youths have protested with placards stating "End Banditry" and "Our Voice Must Be Heard," demanding decisive government action. Governor AbdulRazaq has framed military reinforcement as essential for permanent safety, thanking the President for additional troops and expressing confidence they would "provide further deterrence".
The Ongoing National Debate
The divergent strategies in Katsina and Kwara underscore a national policy dilemma. Critics of negotiation warn it undermines state authority and rewards crime. Proponents argue that in the absence of effective security, local deals are a pragmatic tool for immediate relief.
This debate unfolds against a backdrop of severe human cost. Banditry has displaced at least 670,000 people in the northwest, turning it into Nigeria's kidnap capital and crippling agriculture. The crisis continues to test the limits of both negotiation and force, leaving communities caught between hope for peace and the reality of ongoing violence.
Comments
Post a Comment