Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has reaffirmed the state government’s determination to unveil the identities of those engaged in secret negotiations with bandits, allegedly orchestrated by the government led by President Bola Tinubu.
Governor Lawal, who has consistently opposed engaging in talks with bandits, previously voiced concerns about undisclosed discussions between the Nigerian government and these criminal groups.
In a statement issued on Monday, the governor called for an immediate and thorough investigation by Tinubu’s government into the “covert negotiations” with bandits in Zamfara State.
The statement from the state government pointed out that reports suggested government agencies had been in discussions with bandit groups in Zamfara without notifying state authorities.
Governor Lawal, speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Sulaiman Bala Idris, expressed disappointment regarding the actions of certain Federal Government agencies involved in negotiations with bandits without informing the state government and other security agencies.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, accused the Zamfara Government of politicizing security matters.
However, in a statement released on Tuesday by Sulaiman Bala Idris on behalf of the Governor, it was emphasized that they possessed evidence implicating some Federal Government agents in negotiations with bandits in Zamfara.
The Governor suggested that the Minister of Information should have conducted a comprehensive investigation before discrediting the State Government’s claims.
The statement clarified: “We sought clarification from the Federal Government regarding the sneaky negotiations with bandits carried out by some of its agents without recourse to the State Government and heads of Security agencies in the State. We have facts and evidence on what had transpired between these agents of the Federal Government and the bandits during the negotiations in several places across Zamfara.”
“It is disappointing that the information minister discredited our claim without verifying it first. What is expected of him as a professional is to collaborate with relevant authorities to substantiate the claim’s authenticity.
“Zamfara State Government respects protocol and established authority. We would not come out in the media to start exposing the names of the Federal Government agents involved in the covert dialogue with bandits.
“We want to clarify that those individuals leading secret negotiations with bandits in Zamfara are politicising insecurity, not the state government.
“The Information Minister’s statement claiming that there were no negotiations between government officials and bandits in Zamfara requires further clarification. We have already exposed a few locations where such talks were held with bandits, such as Birnin Magaji, Maradun, Mun Haye, Ajah, Bawo, and Bagege.
“Negotiating with bandits in Zamfara is a grave mistake we cannot afford to make. It is not the solution to the problem and only encourages and emboldens the criminals. We urge the Federal Government to take a firm stance against such activities and investigate the motives of those who engage in them.”
| Sahara Reporters
