‘We did not give them one naira,’ Gov Sani speaks on bandits’ surrender

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, on Friday, said no money was paid to bandits to surrender their arms and ruled out the possibility of entering into a form of dialogue or negotiations with some repentant bandits.

Governor Sani stated this during an exclusive interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today, a day after the government received some repentant bandits in the state.

Asked if the state government made a financial bargain for the bandits to lay down their arms, the governor said “We did not give them one naira.”

He added, “There was no monetary issue at all. Most of them are tired, we sat down with them and asked them, ‘Why do you continue to remain in the bush just attacking our people, kidnapping them?”

On Thursday, received the first set of repentant bandits in Birnin-Gwari and reopened the cattle market, which had been closed for about 10 years due to insecurity in the area.

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According to the governor, the development is a major breakthrough in the state government’s efforts to address the security challenges that have plagued the state for years.

Governor Sani noted that it took his administration six months to broker peace with the bandits.

“It is a process that took almost six months precisely to reach this position. Birnin Gwari is one of the most critical local governments in terms of banditry, kidnapping and insurgency in the North-West.

“We also partner with the federal security agencies, the office of the National Security Adviser. So it’s is a collective effort,” Sani added.

According to the governor, the disarmament, mobilisation and integration of the repentant bandits are in process, saying “the Kaduna State Government has been working tirelessly to engage stakeholders and build trust among the various communities in the state.”