Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has maintained his stance that his administration will never negotiate with bandits and terrorists who have been wrecking havoc in the state as that is not part of his strategies in combating their menace.
Lawal who was reacting to a recent interview he had with the BBC Hausa Service last weekend on the security situation in the state where he was reported to have said he would not mind negotiating with the bandits for peace to return to the state, said the interview was mischievously translated by some media platforms to mislead the public on the position of the state government.
In a statement issued on his behalf by his spokesman, Sulaiman Bala Idris, Lawal said there was nowhere in the interview which was conducted in Hausa where he said he would negotiate with bandits.
He added that the Zamfara State government has successfully combat banditry through its aggressive strategy of an all-out offensive against the bandits operating in the state and would not go into any form of negotiations with the criminals.
“The banditry issue has been a significant concern for people across Zamfara State, Northwest, and the entire country for decades,” the statement reads.
“This is one reason Governor Dauda Lawal stated in his campaign manifesto before the 2023 general election that security would be his top priority, pledging to implement measures to address the situation.
“Governor Lawal has been vindicated as it represents a promise that has been kept and fulfilled.
“Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration has prioritized the security of Zamfara State, and it has taken a clear stance from the beginning that negotiating with bandits is nothing but a ‘snipe hunt.’
“In various media interviews, the governor has restated that the Zamfara State Government will not negotiate with the bandits terrorizing the state.
“It should be made clear and on record that Governor Dauda Lawal’s position remains undisputed: no responsible government will negotiate with killers from a position of weakness. Negotiations should only occur from a position of strength.
“Governor Lawal’s BBC Hausa interview has shown that his position is consistent and not contradictory. He has maintained from the outset that if there is any opportunity for negotiation, the bandits must surrender their weapons and repent without any conditions or terms attached.
“The strategy we are implementing to combat banditry is producing remarkable results, as many volatile areas of the state are experiencing a return to peace. All that resonates from Zamfara is the success narrative of leaders and hundreds of bandits eliminated daily.”