… Say Even Powerful Nations Negotiated With Insurgents
… Blame Some Govs For Hoarding Intelligence Reports
Northern elders under the aegis of the Northern Elders Progressive Group have thrown their weight behind the ongoing peace efforts of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, urging governors across the North-West to embrace dialogue with bandits as part of measures to end years of violence in the region.
Speaking at a press briefing in Kaduna on Tuesday, the group’s Zonal Coordinator, Yusuf Abubakar, said non-kinetic approaches being explored by the NSA and other stakeholders had already started yielding results.
Abubakar, who recently travelled through Sokoto, Gusau, Funtua, and Zaria, noted visible improvements in security and commuter safety.
“Compared to previous months, there is a significant improvement in patrols and the safety of travellers along these routes. This is a sign that dialogue, if well-coordinated, can complement military operations,” he said.
He advised governors to prioritize peace talks over condolence visits and repeated military offensives, which he argued overstretch security forces without providing lasting solutions.
> “It is better for a governor to invest in saving lives than spending billions on condolence messages. One life is far more important than political gestures,” he stressed.
Responding to critics who dismissed dialogue as weakness, Abubakar argued that negotiations remain a globally tested approach in conflict resolution.
“Even powerful nations like the United States have engaged groups such as the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and the Houthis. Negotiation is not cowardice; it is a strategic decision to save lives,” he said.
He also criticised some governors who claimed to have intelligence on the movement of bandits but failed to share such information with security agencies, describing such behaviour as “irresponsible propaganda.”
The group defended the NSA, warning against attempts to politicise the peace process.
“The Office of the National Security Adviser represents unity, peace, and national security. Attacking it amounts to destabilising the entire country,” Abubakar cautioned.
He also commended Senator Shehu Buba, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Intelligence, for what he described as tireless efforts to ensure the success of the ongoing dialogue initiative.
“Every well-meaning northerner should support genuine efforts aimed at ending the bloodshed and restoring peace,” he added.
The elders urged governors in the North-West to work hand-in-hand with the NSA, the Minister of Defence, and the Service Chiefs to give the dialogue initiative a chance of success.
The North-West has for over a decade been the epicentre of banditry, mass kidnappings, and rural displacements, with states like Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Sokoto worst hit. Thousands have been killed, while millions have been displaced, according to humanitarian agencies.
Abubakar insisted that while military action is necessary, lasting peace can only be achieved through synergy and genuine dialogue.
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