Sokoto State government has explained its decision to negotiate with bandits who agree to surrender, saying the move is a step toward ending long-term violence in the region.
The response came after a social media user, Basharu Altine Guyawa, criticized the decision. Speaking on behalf of the government, the Special Adviser on Security to Governor Ahmed Aliyu, Col Ahmed Usman (Rtd), said the talks with repentant bandits are not a sign of weakness, but part of a broader strategy to bring peace.
“The attention of the Sokoto State Government has been drawn to comments made by Mr. Basharu Altine Giyawa, a social media commentator, criticizing our administration’s efforts to explore non-violent pathways toward ending the cycle of banditry and insecurity affecting parts of our dear state.
“While we respect the right of every citizen to express their opinion, it is important to set the record straight and clarify the rationale behind Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s decision to adopt a multifaceted security strategy that includes dialogue and reconciliation with repentant bandits.
“It is worth noting, with some irony, that Mr. Giyawa himself had at some point expressed willingness to mediate between the state and those who have taken up arms. It is therefore surprising that he now criticizes a similar effort by the government he once sought to assist. This inconsistency calls into question the sincerity of his current stance.
“Let it be clear: the government is not negotiating out of weakness, nor are we compromising justice. What we are doing is embracing a pragmatic, human-centered approach — the stick-and-carrot model, consistent with the military’s kinetic and non-kinetic doctrine.
“Our people in Rabah, Goronyo, Isa, Sabon Birni, and other affected LGAs are living with the daily trauma of displacement. Farmers have abandoned their fields, food production has dropped, and economic activities have come to a halt in many communities. This has direct consequences on food security and inflation across the state.
“Our objective is clear: to restore peace, return our people to their homes, and rebuild local economies. We are deploying security forces where needed and force is being applied when necessary. But we are also opening the door to those who genuinely wish to surrender and reintegrate into society under strict supervision and rehabilitation programs.
“This is not appeasement — this is strategic reconciliation for long-term peace and development.
“We urge critics to engage responsibly and constructively. The challenges facing Sokoto State require unity, not division; collaboration, not condemnation. The people deserve solutions — and that is exactly what Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration is working tirelessly to provide,” the statement said.
