Mixed reactions have continued to trail the abduction of 50 elderly residents of Magamin Diddi village in Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State, who were kidnapped after visiting a bandits’ camp for peace talks.
It was earlier reported that the elders embarked on a voluntary mission in June to meet a bandit leader identified as Jammo, who reportedly controls the Muntsira Forest, in a bid to secure safe access to farmlands during the farming season.
Governor Dauda Lawal, while speaking with BBC Hausa, described the elders’ action as illegal and unauthorised, saying they did not inform the government before embarking on the mission.
“They did not inform the authority before embarking on such dangerous step they have taken,” Lawal said, adding, “They are on their own.”
He added, “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.”
Lawal said his administration was investigating the incident, insisting that his government would not support dialogue with bandits.
“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,” he said.
The incident has deepened debate over the governor’s refusal to negotiate with bandits, with some residents supporting his position while others argue that dialogue could help reduce attacks.
A Gusau resident, Usman Alkali, who spoke with Punch said, “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.”
A farmer, Alhaji Garba Mohammed, however, backed the governor’s stance.
“To me, the issue of negotiating with bandits should be avoided by the government because they are not sincere,” he said.
But a businessman, Alhaji Mustafa Ibrahim, urged the governor to consider negotiation to restore peace.
“We are tired of these atrocities, and we want the government to negotiate with them so that peace will return to the state,” he said.
Lawal maintained that security operations had reduced attacks in the state, though he admitted that the problem had not been completely eliminated.
