Kaduna governor justifies peace deal with bandits amid escalating violence

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has shed light on his administration’s decision to negotiate peace with bandits who have terrorized parts of the state for over a decade.
Communities in Chikun, Kagarko, Giwa, Kajuru, and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas have been the hardest hit by the bandits’ reign of terror, marked by killings, abductions, and destruction of property. Highways and farmlands have also suffered, leaving many residents in despair.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Governor Sani explained that the decision to pursue dialogue was driven by persistent pleas from affected residents and traditional leaders.
“It is the people affected by the violence that called for the dialogue,” he said. He recounted how the Emir of Birnin Gwari, accompanied by his subjects, urged the government to explore peaceful resolutions after years of bloodshed and failed interventions.
To solidify the initiative, Sani consulted with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and other key stakeholders before engaging the bandits. A breakthrough came when the bandits released 200 abducted persons from Giwa and Birnin Gwari Local Government Areas, which Sani described as a critical step toward restoring peace.
Expressing his commitment to safeguarding lives, Sani stated, “I’d rather negotiate with bandits than to bear the weight of a single life lost in Kaduna. If not, I will be held accountable on the day of resurrection, having promised and sworn an oath.”
The governor also refuted claims that ransom payments were made to facilitate the peace talks.
“Not a single naira was paid to them,” he said, crediting traditional and religious leaders for their role in ensuring the success of the negotiations, which spanned six months before being made public.
Sani remained optimistic about the sustainability of the initiative, noting the resumption of farming and business activities in previously troubled areas. “They have released our people, and now farming and business activities have resumed. We will continue to pray, and I am assuring that the relative peace we are enjoying now will be sustained,” he added.
Kaduna governor justifies peace deal with bandits amid escalating violence