North-West governors won’t negotiate with bandits, says Sokoto gov

Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, has said that governors in Nigeria’s North-West region will not negotiate with bandits, insisting that only unconditional surrender would be accepted from criminal groups operating in the area.

Aliyu made the statement in Katsina on Saturday during the commissioning of the N12.6bn, 8.1-kilometre Yandaki–Shinkafi–Kofar Sauri Road constructed by Governor Dikko Umaru Radda.

“We will not negotiate with any criminal, nor will we accept any offer from them unless they surrender unconditionally,” Aliyu said.

He stated that governors across the North-West were united in their resolve to end insecurity, adding that significant resources were being committed by state governments to combat banditry and related crimes.

Aliyu assured residents that state governments were working closely with security agencies to strengthen strategies aimed at restoring peace across the region.

He also called on citizens to support the anti-banditry campaign by exposing informants within their communities.

“We must do the needful at the community level by remaining vigilant and monitoring the movement of suspicious individuals,” he said.

The governor noted that successful attacks by bandits often involved some form of local collaboration and urged residents to take responsibility for safeguarding their communities.

Aliyu further appealed to the people to continue praying for the success of efforts to tackle insecurity in the North-West and across the country.

He commended the Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, for pioneering the establishment of the Katsina State Community Guard to complement conventional security agencies.

“I recall that immediately after witnessing the inauguration of the Katsina State Community Guard, I returned to Sokoto State and established our own Community Guard Corps,” he said.

Aliyu described the initiative as impactful and capable of producing tangible results, while also praising Radda, chairman of the North-West APC Governors’ Forum, for what he described as quality leadership.