Insecurity: Police affairs minister moves to compromise military onslaught, considers dialogue, settlement of bandits

The Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, may be moving to compromise or weaken the ongoing onslaught on bandits in northwest Nigeria and other parts of the country by the nigerian military and other security agencies. The minister, in a subtle consideration of negotiation and settlement at a time the military is hitting the bandits hard, disclosed that the  Federal Government is prepared to listen to repentant bandits and settle them without cost. In the view of the police affairs minister, such measures would help  in   finding a lasting solution to the security crisis in the northwest and north central.

Minister Muhammad Dingyadi had in a media interaction, was cited to have stated: “With all pleasure, anybody willing to surrender and do it honourably and honestly; the government is ready to listen. The government is ready to see what they can do to settle them down without much cost.”

The police affairs minister had maintained that the Buhari administration has intention to reintegrate repentant bandits into the larger society. He, however, noted that the government would closely monitor those who have turned a new leaf to ensure they do not return to their old way of life.

He maintained that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has resolved to continue to record successes against bandits since the security agencies continue to work in synergy.

The minister was ambiguous on the issue of amnesty to bandits who have interest to surrender; saying that government’s willing to listen to the bandits, even after years of havoc in the country and putting the Buhari administration into global mockery of leadership failure.  The minister had stated: “When you talk of amnesty, it is a relative term and what the Federal Government is trying to say is – Let us see those who have surrendered their arms, let us listen to them, let us chronicle them, let us receive them’; we cannot just throw these people away because they are all Nigerians.

“Of course, they are criminals, they have committed atrocities, they have committed crimes, but according to the international laws, when you surrender from a war zone, you are not killed, you are not maimed, you are allowed to have your say.

“We are listening to them to see how we can integrate them into the larger society. What we are trying to do is to get them settled in their various communities, to let them have a kind of means of livelihood so that they can integrate peacefully and honourably into the society.”

However, the minister ignored reports that some repentant bandits have returned to stealing within their environment of resettlement.

The minister further acknowledged the success recorded in the ongoing military operations against bandits in Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and other states in the northwest.