Negotiating with bandits undermines Nigeria’s authority —Retired senior military chiefs warn

•Say, it emboldens the bandits, demoralises the troops

•We’re bushed of crying, burying our children—Katsina women

•If dialog tin halt bloodshed, wherefore not?—Community leaders

By Evelyn Usman

The beingness of high-profile bandits astatine the dialog array successful Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State, 1 of the councils worst deed by years of deadly raids, has sparked a heated statement wrong information and defence circles. Military officers, retired generals, and defence analysts are sharply divided: immoderate reason that the talks correspond pragmatic struggle solution that could prevention lives,while others importune it amounts to unsafe legitimisation of criminality, sending the incorrect awesome to troops and the wider public.

Some analysts pointed to Kwashé Garwa’s extended engagement successful raids crossed Katsina and neighbouring states arsenic grounds that negotiations hazard normalising terrorism, portion assemblage leaders support that dialog is simply a indispensable measurement to extremity the rhythm of unit and reconstruct entree to farms and markets.

It undermines authorities authorization —Rear Admiral Olisemelogor (Rtd)

Rear Admiral Dickson Olisemelogor (Rtd), said immoderate determination to negociate with men accused of killings and kidnappings would magnitude to a unsafe compromise that would betray the regularisation of law. He stated: “It is wholly wrong. Negotiating with bandits is not the close attack unless those progressive are portion of a program to destabilize the region. The negotiations are not for nationalist involvement but for idiosyncratic interest. Those progressive are portion of the banditry network. Any politician oregon authoritative calling for dialog is indirectly telling Nigerians that they are portion of the scheme.” On wherefore information forces person not simply moved to destruct bandit bases, Olisemelogor said: “The subject operates connected instruction. We observe rules of engagement and planetary instrumentality to debar warfare crimes.

But if the President oregon Chief of Defence Staff gives a wide directive, similar recently, that determination should beryllium nary dialog and determination indispensable beryllium afloat enactment against them, past nary subject unit should beryllium negotiating. The acquisition has been given. There is nary ineligible barrier. So anyone negotiating present is doing truthful for personal, not national, interest.”

It means surrendering powerfulness – Maj. Gen Akin Yomi

Corroborating Olisemelogor, Maj.-Gen. Akin Yomi said: “Negotiating with terrorists is thing abbreviated of surrendering the state’s authority. Once you beryllium crossed the array from men who person killed, raped and abducted, you elevate them to the aforesaid level arsenic morganatic actors. What connection does that nonstop to our soldiers successful the trenches? That their sacrifices are meaningless? The infinitesimal the authorities begins to reward bandits with recognition, others volition prime up arms tomorrow, hoping to beryllium called for dialog and compensation. That is not peace; it is blackmail.”

It emboldens criminals – Brig.-Gen. Danjuma

Brig.-Gen. Dogo Danjuma (Rtd), a seasoned subject serviceman who battled insurgents successful Nigeria’s North-East, said: “One happening I cognize is that unit thrives erstwhile the authorities shows weakness. Today they are asking for markets and escaped movement. Tomorrow, they volition request governmental power. These are not aggrieved citizens but hardened criminals connected the nation’s wanted list. We cannot physique bid by compromising justice. Negotiation lone emboldens them and demoralises the troops risking their lives regular to support guiltless Nigerians.”

Negotiating with bandits shows weakness –Major Efoziem (Retd)

For Mr Bone Efoziem, a retired Major, the connection to negociate with bandits was unacceptable. He delivered a pointed critique,warning that immoderate engagement risks undermining authorities authorization and legitimizing acts of terror. He said: “Our governmental leaders should not marque Nigeria look similar a banana republic.

First and foremost, if Nigeria has go a failed state, the radical successful authorization should fto america cognize that determination is nary much government. On that note, the populace tin spell up and negociate with bandits. That is to say, determination is nary authorities due to the fact that it is presumed that the authorities should person the monopoly for cohesion.

But accepting to negociate with bandits volition marque Nigeria appea...