“Stop Negotiating With Bandits, They Have No Fear of God” - Defence Minister Christopher Musa Tells State Governors

Christopher Musa 

Nigeria's Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, is urging state governors to stop negotiating with bandits, saying it's weakening military operations. He believes bandits are untrustworthy and will likely renege on agreements, citing the Katsina State government's recent release of 70 suspected bandits as a mistake.

Musa reckons talking to bandits isn't working; it's actually making things worse. He says they're untrustworthy and will likely go back to kidnapping and stuff after making deals with the government. He's urging governors to stop negotiating and let the military handle it. 

In a recent interview with BBC Hausa, Musa stated that dialogue with criminal groups only emboldens them and complicates the work of security agencies. He emphasized that such engagements undermine ongoing military operations, allow bandits to regroup, and prolong insecurity across affected regions.

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Musa emphasizes that paying ransom only emboldens criminals, and the federal government doesn't pay ransom to kidnappers. Instead, he advocates for reporting kidnappings to security agencies and addressing poverty and hunger that drive recruitment into bandit groups.

“Negotiation with bandits is not a way out, those people are not real, whenever they come for reconciliation, they need something,” Musa said in Hausa.

“What’s happening in Katsina we told them, don’t ever make the mistake of reconciling with those people, they are liars.

“We begged people to stop negotiating with them and the government should stop. It’s not right and they will surely come back again. They don’t fear God.

“We already informed them it damages our work, we asked them to stop, you know it’s democracy now not military rule. But we are in talks with them.”

The defence minister also dismissed claims that the federal government pays ransom to kidnappers.

“Paying ransom is not good. People should stop paying ransom when they kidnap people. Report should be made and actions will be taken.

“Federal government doesn’t pay for ransom. It might be other people and they are doing that on their own.”

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai supports Musa's stance, praising the defence minister for affirming the no-ransom policy.