The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has urged State governments to stop negotiating with bandits, warning that such talks undermine military operations.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Hausa, Musa said bandits cannot be trusted and are likely to break any agreements reached with them.
The defence minister revealed that the Federal government had warned the Katsina State government about its recent decision to release 70 suspected bandits from custody.
The Katsina government had defended the move as necessary for strengthening community-led peace agreements with “repentant bandits” in several local government areas.
“Negotiation with bandits is not a way out, those people are not real, whenever they come for reconciliation, they need something,” Musa spoke in Hausa language.
“What’s happening in Katsina we told them, don’t ever make the mistake of reconciling with those people, they are liars.
“We begged people to stop negotiating with them and the government should stop. It’s not right and they will surely come back again. They don’t fear God.
“We already informed them it damages our work, we asked them to stop, you know it’s democracy now not military rule. But we are in talk with them.”
The defence minister dismissed claims that the federal government pays ransom to kidnappers.
He said paying ransom is wrong and urged Nigerians to report kidnapping cases to the authorities instead of negotiating with criminals.
“Paying ransom is not good. People should stop paying ransom when they kidnap people. Report should be made and actions will be taken.”
“Federal government doesn’t pay for ransom. It might be other people and they are doing that on their own.”
