The Nigerian Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu has been accused of negotiating with bandits in secret.
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, accused the government of sending a delegation to hold secret meetings with bandit groups in the state.
According to Lawal’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, government agencies engaged in negotiations with the bandits without the knowledge of the state government and other security agencies.
The Governor has called for an urgent and comprehensive investigation by the Tinubu government into these secretive negotiations.
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He also urged the federal government to clarify the actions of the federal agencies involved in the negotiations.
The statement read in parts: “Governor Dauda Lawal wishes to call on the Federal Government to clarify and investigate the actions of some unscrupulous elements sabotaging the ongoing fight against banditry in Zamfara.
“The Zamfara State Government has received reports of how some Federal Government delegation met with different bandit groups in Birnin Magaji, Maradun, Munhaye, Ajah, Bawo, and Bagega.
“Previous administrations in the State failed to achieve positive outcomes in their attempts to engage in dialogue with bandits. We must learn from these past mistakes and adopt a new approach to restore peace in Zamfara.
“The Zamfara State Government has taken a firm stance from the beginning – we will not negotiate with these criminals.
“Ensuring the fight against banditry is a top priority of Zamfara State Government, and we cannot afford to make any compromises in our efforts. We urge the Federal Government to take swift action by terminating the ongoing negotiations with the bandits in Zamfara, as it undermines progress so far.”
