The governor of Niger State Mohammed Bago has explained that his administration extended an “olive branch” to bandits in the state, aiming to encourage them to lay down their arms and embrace amnesty.

Bago emphasised that the intention behind the olive branch was not to negotiate with the bandits, but rather to initiate open dialogue with them.

He said the discussions are aimed at encouraging the bandits to reintegrate into society by relinquishing their weapons and participating in the state’s amnesty programme.

The governor who stated this during a courtesy visit to the minister of information and national orientation, Mohammed Idris, in Abuja yesterday said the state government is also “battle ready too.”

“We have extended olive branch to bandits to drop their arms for amnesty and we are discussing with them to see how we can solve the problem amicably. However, we are battle ready too. We are discussing with them not negotiation, talking to them to come out, drop their arms and enter the society. It is a clarion call,” he said.

He noted that government is working and some of these things they are doing are not for public consumption.

“Some of the things that the security agencies are doing are not what we will come out and talk before the cameras, what I can tell you is that Mr President is deeply concerned and is working around the clock to ensure that peace returns to Nigeria, and he will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that it happens.

“The sub-national entities are keying into the programmes and projects of the president. Niger State has 8.6 million hectares of land with 6000sq km of arable land, 4 Hydropower dam, we are 10 percent of the total size of Nigeria so we are poised and positioned for agriculture in terms of animal husbandry, crop production, aquaculture and other ways of food security,” he said.

https://leadership.ng/we-extended-olive-branch-to-bandits-not-negotiation-niger-governor/

na so. This country is funny. Imagine there been killing in the East and the governor coming out the next day to ask for amnesty for the killers .

Hahahakikiki..

Niger governor should not try to negotiate with terrorists.

BTW, the FG should not focus all attention on bokoharam and IPOB bandits alone.

Attention should also be focused on online bandits too. Something needs to be done about them immediately before they get out of hand and go worldwide.

From cyber-bullying everyone in Nigeria they have gone further to the US threatening CSU and the governor of the state.

If una like extend Goya olive oil to them...keep feeding the shark until una wake up one day see unasefs inside e belle.

If others governors try to do such in the east, some poo-brained people will say eastern governors are enabling ipob and gunmen.

Treating terrorist's with soft hand is what is encouraging them to do what they are doing.

Jamieb:
na so. This country is funny. Imagine there been killing in the East and the governor coming out the next day to ask for amnesty for the killers .

Hahahakikiki