Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has provided insight into why his administration chose to engage in peace talks with the bandits responsible for ongoing attacks in parts of the state.
Kaduna has experienced repeated assaults by bandits, particularly in the local government areas of Chikun, Kagarko, Giwa, Kajuru, and Birnin Gwari, in addition to attacks on major highways. These assaults have led to significant loss of life, destruction of homes, farmland, and other property.
In a bid to curb these activities and restore peace, the state government initiated peace talks with the bandits.
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Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa service, Governor Sani explained that the decision was driven by the urgent calls from affected communities for an end to the violence. He noted that residents, especially those severely impacted, were vocal in their request for dialogue.
“It is the people affected by the violence that called for the dialogue. For example, the Emir of Birnin Gwari came with his subjects, asking for talks,” he said. “When I inquired about his reasoning, he explained that their communities have been plagued by banditry for over a decade, with no lasting solution in sight, leading to tragic losses and abductions.”
The governor revealed that following these pleas, he consulted with key stakeholders, including the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, before ultimately deciding to pursue the peace initiative. He highlighted that the decision came after the bandits released 200 people who had been abducted from Giwa and Birnin Gwari local government areas. The governor expressed optimism that the peace talks would help restore stability to the state, allowing farmers to return to their land and businesses to recover.
Governor Sani also emphasised that, in his view, negotiating with the bandits was a preferable option to the loss of even a single life in Kaduna. “I’d rather negotiate with bandits than bear the weight of a single life lost in Kaduna. If not, I will be held accountable on the day of resurrection, having promised and sworn an oath,” he said.
When asked whether the state government had paid any money to the bandits to facilitate the talks, the governor firmly denied it. “I want to assure you that not a single naira was paid to them,” he stated.
He explained that the peace deal was reached with the support and collaboration of traditional and religious leaders, with negotiations spanning six months before the formal announcement was made to the public.
