North-West governors have jointly ruled out any form of bandit negotiations, reaffirming a unified position against engaging armed groups responsible for insecurity across the region. The governors stated that dialogue with criminal elements will no longer be considered as part of their security strategy.
The position was reiterated during a public engagement in Katsina State, where governors emphasized a coordinated approach to addressing banditry. They stressed that bandit negotiations would not be pursued under any circumstances, insisting that armed groups must surrender unconditionally to security forces.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State, speaking on behalf of regional leaders, said the governors remain committed to ending insecurity through strengthened security operations and community cooperation.
The governors explained that their decision reflects a shared policy direction across North-West states aimed at confronting insecurity through enforcement rather than dialogue. They noted that previous experiences with armed groups have informed the current position against bandit negotiations.
According to statements from the forum, the focus has shifted toward strengthening collaboration with security agencies and supporting local security initiatives, including community-based protection structures. The governors also encouraged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements, stating that community intelligence remains critical to combating banditry.
Part of the regional strategy includes the expansion of community security outfits designed to support conventional security agencies. Some states in the North-West have already introduced local guard structures to improve response time and intelligence gathering. Officials said these initiatives are intended to complement federal security operations and improve grassroots-level security coordination.
The governors maintained that rejecting bandit negotiations does not eliminate other forms of engagement with communities affected by insecurity, but strictly excludes dialogue with armed groups.
The North-West has continued to experience security challenges linked to armed banditry, including attacks on rural communities, kidnapping, and disruption of economic activities. These incidents have prompted coordinated responses from state governments and federal security agencies.
Authorities said the current strategy prioritises sustained military operations and intelligence-driven interventions to dismantle criminal networks. The renewed stance against bandit negotiations reflects an effort to standardise security policy across the region and avoid fragmented approaches to dealing with armed groups.
Security analysts note that the rejection of negotiations may influence ongoing debates about the most effective approach to addressing banditry in Nigeria. While some past interventions included dialogue and amnesty frameworks, the current position signals a shift toward enforcement-led strategies.
The governors believe that a unified position against bandit negotiations will strengthen operational consistency and improve coordination among security stakeholders. However, the effectiveness of this approach will depend on sustained collaboration between state governments, federal security agencies, and affected communities.
