Bandits Will Never Honour Peace Deals,’ Nigeria’s Defence Chief Warns Nigerian Communities Against Negotiating With Armed Criminals
‘Bandits Will Never Honour Peace Deals,’ Nigeria’s Defence Chief Warns Nigerian Communities Against Negotiating With Armed Criminals
The Defence Chief stated that they have repeatedly seen that whenever people try to make peace with the bandits, it backfires.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has cautioned Nigerians against entering into peace deals or negotiations with armed bandits, warning that such efforts have consistently backfired and only embolden criminal groups.
Speaking in an interview conducted in Hausa language, General Musa said those who attempt to make peace with bandits are only putting themselves and their communities in danger, as the so-called truces are often used by the criminals to regroup and expand their operations.
The Defence Chief stated that they have repeatedly seen that whenever people try to make peace with the bandits, it backfires. According to him, this is why they advise Nigerians to avoid any dealings with them, given the already grave situation.
He recalled how residents of Lakurawa community once accepted bandits from neighbouring Niger Republic who claimed to seek peace and a place to settle. However, the group soon turned against the people.
General Musa said that the Lakurawa fighters began extorting people, going around demanding money. When people refused to pay, they killed them. He described the so-called peace deals as worthless, noting that the bandits will never honour them.
According to him, the bandits act out of greed and selfish interests, not repentance or goodwill.
He added that the bandits do not fear God and never act out of goodwill; they only pursue their own interests and money.
General Musa emphasised that the military does not support any peace deal or negotiation with bandit groups.
He advised that those who genuinely want to repent must surrender their arms and submit to security authorities for screening and investigation.
He said that if they genuinely want to stop, they should lay down their weapons and surrender. Once they surrender, they will be taken into custody, screened, and thoroughly investigated.
General Musa said, “We’ve seen over and over that whenever people try to make peace with them, it backfires. That’s why we warned: don’t have any dealings with them, in any way. The situation is already serious.
“How did they do with Lakurawa? ‘They came in from Niger, and they told us to give them a place to settle down. They started extorting people, going around demanding money. When people refused to pay, they killed them.’ There has been violent oppression for years. So you can see the result.
“This so-called peace deal is worthless; they will never honour it. They do not fear God, and they do not do anything out of goodwill; they act for their own gain and for money. People must not accept any truce or deal with them, even if local officials try, it will turn against them. All they do is deceive them.
“We therefore urge everyone: do not make peace with them. We do not support these bandits or any peace agreement with them. If they genuinely want to stop, they should lay down their weapons and surrender. If they surrender, we will take them into custody, screen and investigate them thoroughly; that’s the proper approach.”
“But sitting down with a bandit and asking ‘Why did you pick up a gun?’ is pointless. It’s driven by greed, and greedy people will not give up. They will never stop. So there should be no truce with them,” he added.
Meanwhile, some governors in northern Nigeria have encouraged negotiations with bandits.
For instance, while the Katsina State government denies direct involvement, Governor Dikko Radda has acknowledged that some local communities have independently initiated peace talks with bandits. This approach is referred to as the “Katsina Model”.
These negotiations are described as community-driven, where residents of affected areas engage with “repentant” bandits to broker peace. The government claims it does not interfere but supports any effort that leads to stability.
