Why we are Negotiating with Bandits in Kaduna – Gov Uba Sani

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has defended his administration’s decision to engage in peace talks with bandits, stating that the move was driven by urgent pleas from affected communities seeking an end to the violence.

Kaduna has been a hotspot for bandit attacks, with areas such as Chikun, Kagarko, Giwa, Kajuru, and Birnin Gwari suffering repeated assaults that have led to loss of lives, mass abductions, and destruction of property. Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Sani explained that traditional rulers and community leaders, including the Emir of Birnin Gwari, requested the government’s intervention through dialogue.

“It is the people affected by the violence that called for the dialogue. The Emir of Birnin Gwari came with his subjects, pleading for negotiations. When I asked why, he said their communities had endured over a decade of banditry, with countless lives lost and no lasting solution in sight,” Sani said.

Following these appeals, Sani consulted with key security stakeholders, including National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, before deciding to pursue the peace deal. He emphasized that the negotiations were not accompanied by any financial incentives, stating, “I want to assure you that not a single naira was paid to them.”

The governor highlighted that the release of 200 abducted persons from Giwa and Birnin Gwari was a significant outcome of the initiative, expressing confidence that it would lead to lasting peace and allow farmers and businesses to recover. He defended his decision, declaring, “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.”

Sani’s approach represents a stark departure from that of his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, who had consistently rejected dialogue with bandits. El-Rufai previously stated that while religious leaders could encourage repentance, the government’s role was to enforce security rather than negotiate.

Despite skepticism, Sani remains optimistic about the peace deal’s sustainability, citing the resumed economic activities in affected areas as evidence of its success. “They have released our people, and now farming and business activities have resumed. We will continue to pray, and I assure you that the relative peace we are enjoying now will be sustained,” he added.