Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has firmly reiterated that his administration will not engage in negotiations with bandits, despite recent misrepresentations in the media.

In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, on Tuesday, the governor addressed a misquote from an exclusive interview he gave to BBC Hausa over the weekend. The interview was reportedly mistranslated by some media outlets, leading to a misleading public perception of the state government’s position.

The statement clarified that Governor Lawal has consistently emphasized that the state’s approach to tackling banditry is through a robust, all-out offensive, and not by negotiating with criminals. “The issue of banditry has been a major concern for the people of Zamfara State, the Northwest, and the entire country for decades,” said the statement. “Governor Lawal made it clear in his campaign manifesto before the 2023 elections that security would be his top priority, and he pledged to take decisive action.”

According to the spokesperson, the governor’s position on security has been consistent throughout his administration. “Governor Dauda Lawal has always maintained that negotiating with bandits is akin to a ‘snipe hunt,’ and this stance remains unchanged. Negotiations, if ever considered, would only take place from a position of strength, with bandits required to lay down their arms and repent without any conditions,” the statement read.

Governor Lawal’s administration has been clear from the outset that it will not negotiate with the bandits who have terrorized the state. “No responsible government would negotiate with killers from a position of weakness. Our strategy has been to confront them head-on, and the results have been positive,” the statement emphasized.

The governor’s office further highlighted the significant progress made in combatting banditry, citing a return to peace in many previously volatile areas of the state. “The strategy we are implementing is yielding remarkable results. Zamfara is now witnessing a decline in bandit activity, and we are seeing a daily reduction in the number of bandits neutralized,” the spokesperson concluded.

Negotiating with bandits will never be part of our strategy – Gov Lawal