Bandits haven’t enjoyed city life, combine amnesty, military action – ACF’s Dalhatu to FG
Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Bashir Dalhatu, has urged the Federal Government to adopt a combined strategy of negotiation and military force in addressing insecurity across northern Nigeria.
Speaking on ARISE Television’s Morning Show on Friday, Dalhatu argued that the dual approach has worked in other regions and could yield similar results in the North. He suggested that a model similar to the Niger Delta amnesty programme, which rehabilitated militants through education and reintegration, could be explored.
Dalhatu noted that many bandits grew up without access to schooling or exposure to urban life. While insisting that crime must not be excused
“Most of these bandits have not had the opportunity to go to school, have not had the opportunity to actually enjoy what we ordinarily do in the cities. And it’s just for government to probably, while extending hands of friendship, but also making it quite clear that what they are doing is illegal and criminal, and those that are caught in the process are punished,” he said
According to him, there is an active debate in the North between those who support a strictly military solution and those pushing for dialogue. But evidence, he said, shows that a blend of both strategies has produced results in several cases.
He added that security operatives already use a mix of force and limited negotiation, and credited recent government efforts, supported by the public, with achieving some progress.
