Governor Dauda Lawal has reaffirmed his administration’s hardline stance against negotiating with bandits, even as 50 elderly residents of Zamfara State remain in captivity after a failed peace mission to a notorious criminal hideout.
The abducted elders, all from Magamin Diddi village in Maradun Local Government Area, were reportedly seized earlier this month after voluntarily travelling to meet a feared bandit kingpin, identified as Jammo, in the Muntsira Forest axis.
Their mission was to negotiate peace and secure safe access to farmlands ahead of the farming season, amid persistent attacks and insecurity that have disrupted agricultural activities across the state.
However, the peace initiative ended in disaster when the armed group allegedly rejected their proposal and detained all 50 delegates.
The incident has sparked outrage and renewed debate over the worsening security crisis in Zamfara, with residents sharply divided over whether dialogue or military force remains the most effective strategy for ending years of bloodshed.
Speaking during an interview with BBC Hausa, Governor Lawal distanced his administration from the mission, describing the elders’ action as dangerous and unauthorised.
“They did not inform the authority before embarking on such dangerous step they have taken,” the governor said.
Making his position unequivocal, Lawal insisted that his government would not negotiate with criminal groups under any circumstances.
“They are on their own. As I said, who sent them to negotiate? It certainly was not the government. We have consistently stated that we do not support negotiations with terrorists,” he declared.
The governor argued that previous peace agreements entered into by past administrations failed to deliver lasting peace and instead emboldened criminal groups operating in the state.
According to him, such arrangements often provide bandits with opportunities to regroup, expand their operations and acquire more sophisticated weapons.
“From the outset, my position has been clear: I will not negotiate with terrorists. That remains my position today,” Lawal stated.
Despite acknowledging that insecurity has not been completely eradicated, the governor maintained that ongoing military operations have significantly weakened several armed groups and improved security in parts of the state, leading to increased farming activities in some communities.
However, the abduction of the elders has intensified criticism from residents who believe the government’s refusal to engage in dialogue has prolonged the suffering of rural communities.
Many villagers reportedly continue to pay levies and protection fees to bandits in exchange for temporary access to their farms.
A resident of Gusau, Usman Alkali, blamed the continued displacement of communities and declining agricultural activities on the failure to find alternative solutions to the crisis.
“As a result of Governor Lawal’s stance, hundreds of villages were sacked in the state, while farming activities have totally grounded,” he said.
Others, however, backed the governor’s position. A large-scale farmer, Alhaji Garba Mohammed, argued that negotiating with bandits would only strengthen criminal networks.
“To me, the issue of negotiating with bandits should be avoided by the government because they are not sincere,” he said.
Meanwhile, businessman Alhaji Mustafa Ibrahim urged the state government to reconsider its approach, saying residents are desperate for an end to the violence.
“We are tired of these atrocities and we want the government to negotiate with them so that peace will return to the state,” he appealed.
As uncertainty surrounds the fate of the 50 abducted elders, the incident has once again highlighted the difficult choices confronting Zamfara State as it battles one of Nigeria’s most persistent security challenges.
