Dialogue with Bandits Offers Only Temporary Relief – Shehu Sani

Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has warned that dialogue with bandits provides only temporary relief to affected communities and cannot serve as a permanent solution to insecurity in North West Nigeria.

Speaking on X, Sani stated that the notorious bandits, responsible for widespread killings, kidnappings, and sexual assaults, cannot be permanently reformed through negotiation.

He said, “Dialogue with the bandits can bring temporary peace, and that is a big relief for the affected communities and the victims; but it will not permanently save the evil men who have spilled the blood of thousands of innocent people. Those notorious criminals live by the sword.

“They are bandit gang leaders who killed and kidnapped thousands in North West Nigeria. They raped women. They are supposed to be brought to justice or outrightly eliminated in the theatre of operations, but our security forces repeatedly failed.

“Ex-Governor Masari once tried the dialogue option in Katsina, but it failed. Katsina and Zamfara bandits have records of infidelity to agreements, even with the presence of Sheikh Gummi. This renewed attempt will be left to be seen. The shedding of innocent blood must come to an end, by any means practicable.”

Sani’s comments highlight ongoing debates over the effectiveness of dialogue as a strategy for tackling insecurity in Nigeria’s northern regions.