Lawal rejects dialogue with bandits as 50 Zamfara elders remain captive

Fifty elderly residents of Zamfara State are being held hostage after a peace negotiation with bandits in the Magamin Diddi village of Maradun Local Government Area took a dangerous turn earlier in June. The community elders had voluntarily organized a mission to "dialogue" with a notorious bandit leader named Jammo, who controls the Muntsira Forest, hoping to secure a peace accord that would allow locals to farm safely during the agricultural season. However, the bandits rejected the peace overtures and instead took all 50 delegates captive.

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They did not inform the authority before embarking on such dangerous step they have taken. They are on their own.

The audacious move by the bandits and the state government's perceived inaction have intensified criticism regarding the worsening insecurity in Zamfara. Governor Dauda Lawal has been accused of not taking sufficient measures to rescue the hostages. While the state government claims to be thoroughly investigating the matter, Governor Lawal has characterized the elders' attempt to reconcile with the bandits as illegal and unauthorized. He expressed disgust over their decision to negotiate without informing authorities, stating they were "on their own."

Governor Lawal reiterated his administration's firm stance against dialogue with bandits, declaring that his government has never supported such negotiations and will not change its position. He questioned the rationale behind the elders embarking on such a mission without government approval. The governor insisted that negotiating with terrorists would not end banditry, citing experiences in other states where the problem persists despite such dialogues.

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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.

Despite condemning the bandits' actions, Lawal distanced his administration from any reported efforts by elders to negotiate with the operating terrorists. He emphasized that his government remains resolute in its fight against the bandits holding the state captive, aiming for their surrender rather than negotiation. The governor stated that his administration is thoroughly investigating the incident and stressed that pursuing negotiations when the government has explicitly rejected that approach is incorrect. The situation highlights the complex security challenges facing Zamfara State and the differing approaches to resolving them.

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I heard the reports, but I do not even know who those individuals are.