Former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, is advocating for a different approach to combat the ongoing security challenges posed by banditry in Nigeria.
He urged the Federal Government to engage in negotiations with the bandits as a potential solution to end the menace.
Shittu believes that adopting alternative non-violent strategies could offer a more effective means to halt the incessant bandit attacks plaguing rural communities across the country.
Expressing his views during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, Shittu, who served in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, emphasized the importance of considering dialogue as a viable option in tackling the security crisis.
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“If I am in position, it is not too late to use non-kinetic neasures in negotiating with bandits, giving them a promising future. Let us retain them. Many of them are very intelligent, many of them are able-bodied,” Shittu said, adding that the military spending on equipment far outweighed the non-kinetic approach.
The former minister highlighted the alarming situation of millions of out-of-school children in Northern Nigeria, describing it as a breeding ground for banditry in the nation.
It’s worth noting that Ahmad Gumi, an Islamic cleric residing in Kaduna State, has similarly voiced support for engaging in dialogue with the bandits causing turmoil across the country.
Security personnel recently summoned the controversial preacher to provide insights into the ongoing security crisis, particularly regarding the issue of banditry that is plaguing the nation.
