Senator Aminu Tambuwal, representing Sokoto South in the National Assembly, has revealed that his administration resorted to informal negotiations with bandits during his tenure as governor of Sokoto State.…….CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Tambuwal explained that the move was a strategic effort to curb violence and protect lives, not a sign of weakness.
> “We did engage bandits through back door channels,” he admitted, noting that dialogue was sometimes necessary to manage a complex security problem.
External Factors Fueling Banditry
Tambuwal stressed that banditry in Nigeria goes beyond local issues, pointing to foreign influences from the Sahel region. He linked the crisis to the fallout from the Libyan conflict and instability in Chad.
> “Bandits are a combination of foreign elements and Nigerians. With the problems in the Sahel, particularly from Libya downwards, this problem did not start today,” he said.
He further lamented that Nigeria’s porous borders have made it easy for arms and criminal groups to infiltrate the country.
Banditry vs. Insurgency
Differentiating between banditry and Boko Haram insurgency, Tambuwal argued that while Boko Haram has an ideological foundation and central command, bandits are fragmented groups driven mainly by financial gain.
Why It Matters
His disclosure underscores the dilemma state governments face in tackling insecurity, as well as the regional dimension of Nigeria’s security challenges. It has also reignited debate over whether negotiation — formal or informal — should be part of the strategy against banditry.…….CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
