Mixed reactions have trailed the continued hostage of 50 Zamfara elderly residents who were kidnapped at the Magamin Diddi village of Maradun Local Government Area of the state when they paid a ‘courtesy’ visit to bandits’ camp for peace negotiation earlier in June this year.

It was learnt that the community elders had organised a voluntary mission to “dialogue” with a notorious bandit kingpin named Jammo, who controls the Muntsira Forest, in hopes of securing a peace accord that would allow locals to safely cultivate their farms during the agricultural season.

However, the bandits rejected the peace overtures and instead took all the 50 delegates hostage.

Angered by the audacious move of the 50 elders, the daring low hanging fruit takeaway by the bandits who are still holding the people captive and the state government’s unperturbed stance as Governor Dauda Lawal has been repeatedly accused of not taking any measures to rescue them, the situation has further escalated talks and criticisms about the worsening state of insecurity in Zamfara State.

However, while the state government disclosed that it was thoroughly investigating the matter, Governor Lawal has regarded the 50 Zamfara elders’ move to reconcile with the bandits as illegal and unauthorised.

Speaking with BBC Hausa regarding the 50 kidnapped elders, the governor expressed disgust over their action to negotiate with the bandits.

Governor Lawal said, “They did not inform the authority before embarking on such dangerous step they have taken,” adding that, “They are on their own’’.

Although the governor condemned the action of the bandits, he distanced his administration from reported efforts by some elders from Maradun Local Government Area to negotiate with terrorists operating in the state, declaring that his government has never supported dialogue with bandits and will not change its position.

Lawal said he had heard about the incident and questioned why would anyone embark on such a mission without the government’s approval.

Querying the suicidal mission, Lawal insisted, “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.

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

Meanwhile, the governor disclosed that his government was thoroughly investigating the matter, adding that it was wrong for people to pursue negotiations when the government has clearly rejected that approach.

Governor Lawal seized the opportunity to reiterate his administration’s decision and resolve to continue fighting bandits holding the state captive until they surrender, instead of inviting them for negotiations.

Our correspondent added that the state governor has persistently stressed that negotiating with bandits would never end banditry as it happened in many states and nothing has changed.

To buttress his claim, Lawal explained that, the previous administrations in the state adopted reconciliation process with the bandits but nothing was achieved.

He maintained at different fora that negotiation with bandits could only empower them and give them the opportunity to acquire more arms rather than abandon their lucrative business.

Not a few security watchers in the state, however, have noted that the refusal of the governor to reconcile with the bandits have led to the destruction of billions of naira worth properties, while several people were killed by the recalcitrant bandits who are bent on putting pressure on the government to negotiate with them and be doling out money as done by the past administrations.

They insisted that Lawal’s stance had further emboldened the bandits who have been kidnapping prominent people of the state in a bid to get the government’s attention for negotiations but the governor has so far kept to his words of non-negotiation.

“As a result of Governor Lawal’s stance, hundreds of villages were sacked in the state, while farming activities have totally grounded, as the bandits are bent on pressuring the government to negotiate with them,” said Usman Alkali a Gusau resident.

More findings showed that many communities in the state who are tired of the rampant ravaging, killings and kidnapping of their people have gone out of their ways to negotiate with the bandits without the consent of the state government, while others are on the way of doing so.

This has seen many communities currently paying heavy taxes to the bandits in a bid to get permission to go to their farmlands.

In spite of these self-help moves, Lawal has reiterated that his administration’s position against negotiating with terrorists has remained unchanged since he assumed office.

“From the outset, my position has been clear: I will not negotiate with terrorists.

“That remains my position today. I do not see why anyone would take it upon themselves to negotiate with criminals.

“That is not my policy, nor will it ever be.”

The governor maintained that the security measures adopted by his administration were sufficient to tackle terrorism and banditry in the state.

He stressed that, substantial progress had been recorded, although he acknowledged that the challenge had not been completely eliminated.

“Very much so. I am not saying we have achieved 100 percent success, but there has been progress.

“As governor, my responsibility is to protect lives and property,” he emphasised.

According to him, the relative improvement in security has had a positive impact on economic activities, particularly agriculture, which remains the main source of livelihood for many residents of the state.

He pointed out further, “If you look at agricultural production in Zamfara last year, it was unprecedented in recent times, and that was made possible by the relative improvement in security.”

He remarked that anyone who claimed he can eliminate terrorism overnight was not being truthful, adding that he never promised that during his campaigns in 2023.

Lawal argued that terrorism was a wider problem affecting multiple locations and not a challenge unique to Zamfara State.

He said, “Terrorism is not unique to Zamfara; it is a challenge in many places. But speaking specifically about Zamfara, I can assure you that the measures we have taken have significantly reduced attacks,”.

The governor explained further that the intensified military and security operations against criminal groups have forced many terrorists to relocate and target areas they perceive as vulnerable.

“At the same time, some attacks will still occur because we have intensified pressure on these criminals. They move to areas they believe are vulnerable.”

Going philosophical, he expressed optimism that, by Allah’s grace, the state would eventually overcome the challenge.

More investigations by our correspondent indicated that while some residents are in support of Governor Lawal’s refusal to negotiate with bandits, others are of the view that fight against banditry would never be won through weapons but through dialogue.

A large scale farmer in the state, Alhaji Garba Mohammed who has stopped farming over the years due to banditry said, the decision by the governor to continue fighting the bandits unless they surrender was a right step in the right direction.

He said, “To me, the issue of negotiating with bandits should be avoided by the government because they are not sincere.

“The governor should not listen to them because they are not sincere. They are never satisfied with whatever the government will give them.

“We have seen what happened in the past. They are looking for a way to be getting money from the government and continue purchasing arms to fight the people of the state.”

In his opinion, a businessman in the state, Alhaji Mustafa Ibrahim appealed to the governor to sit with the bandits and negotiate so as to stop the killings and kidnappings in the state.

“We are tired of these atrocities and we want the government to negotiate with them so that peace will return to the state.

“The Kaduna State government has negotiated with the bandits and we have started seeing the result.

“We have seen how business activities are returning to the state due to peace accord and this is what we want governor Dauda Lawal to do in Zamfara,’’ he noted. (Text, excluding headline: The PUNCH)

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