There were strong indications on Tuesday that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum might opt for dialogue with bandits and people affected by their atrocities to address insecurity in the country.

The Chairman of the NGF, Dr Kayode Fayemi, gave this indication when he led some members of the forum on a solidarity visit to the Niger State Governor, Sani Bello, in Minna, the state capital.

Recall that gunmen on Wednesday last week stormed Government Science College, Kagara in the Rafi Local Government Area of the state and abducted 27 students and 15 workers.

Fayemi, during the visit to Minna, stated, “We all feel your pain. We feel the fears and the anxieties of the good people of Niger State. This is not something that is uncommon. What happens here is not unique to you. You have been part of several delegations to Bornu State to Katsina State, to Ogun State and to Oyo State. As a matter of fact, you were in Ogun State when the Kagara incident happened, and you had to rush back home in order to attend to the challenge in Niger State.”

“We don’t want to come here on a cycle of lamentation. That’s not our job. Yes, we want to be compassionate. Yes, we want to be sympathetic. We want to feel the pain of our people because our first responsibility as governors as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution is the security and welfare of our people, but we don’t want to lament because the citizens want us to fix the problem. Our people just want us to find a permanent solution to this cycle of violence, insurgence, banditry, criminality, and brigandage in our country.”

Fayemi called for proper coordination among the security outfits, adding that the synergy was required for optimal result in ending the security challenges bedevilling the country.

Indicating that governors might consider dialogue, he stated, “We also need to explore other avenues side by side with whatever the security institutions are doing if that means engaging in dialogue We may not have a choice. We may have to do that, anything to help us to deal with this immediate crisis and then to begin to address on a much more longer time basis, the root causes of this social dislocation responsible for what we are witnessing, all around us.”

The NGF chairman commended the measures taken by Bello which resulted in the release of the passengers that were abducted in the Niger State Transport Service bus on February 14.

Responding, the Niger State governor said the solidarity visit of his colleagues was a morale booster to him and the people of the state.

He added that the time had come for the Federal Government to do the needful in addressing the security challenges bedevilling the country.

According to him, state governors have limited powers especially when it comes to the control of the security apparatus in the country.

Bello stated, “Time has come for the federal authorities to key in and work with state governments so that we are able to provide adequate intelligence and find a lasting solution to this menace.

“We are state governors, but we all have our limitations when it comes to control of operations. We do not fully control the Army, Air Force or even the police.”
Bello said that he was fully in support of adopting kinetic and non-kinetic approaches to curb the banditry.

We should only hold talks with repentant bandits – Niger gov

“I agree we should hold dialogue, as bad as it seems. There is the need to look at the root causes and see how we can address them, but then, make no mistake, for those who have chosen the path of terrorism and do not show any sign of repentance, then the needful must be done.”

The governor said the state government was committed to ensuring that it secured the release of the GSC, Kagara abductees.

Other governors that were part of the delegation were Simon Lalong (Plateau), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq ( Kwara), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa) and Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto).

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has asked all heads of the military and paramilitary agencies to intensify efforts towards the release of students and workers of the GSC, Kagara


The House made the call at the plenary on Tuesday following the unanimous adoption of a motion moved by Mr Unyime Idem from Akwa Ibom State.

The motion of urgent public importance was titled, ‘Urgent call on the service chiefs and the Inspector General of Police to Intensify efforts in the rescue of the abducted school children and staff of Government Science Secondary School, Kagara, Niger State.”

Adopting the motion, the House resolved to “condemn in totality, the attack and abduction of students and staff (workers) of Government Science Secondary School, Kagara, Niger State, which occurred on February 17, 2021.”

The House also mandated “all service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies to intensify efforts for the rescue of the abductees.”

Furthermore, the House mandated its Committee on National Security and Intelligence to ensure compliance with the resolutions.

Moving the motion, Idem recalled how gunmen on February 17, 2021, at 2am, attacked the school, killed one student and abducted 27) students and three members of the staff alongside 12 of their relatives.

The lawmaker also recalled how at least 30 travellers were abducted on February 14, 2021, by gunmen who ambushed commuters along the Tegina-Zungeru highway in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State. He said the gunmen also killed three members of the local vigilante group which attempted to foil their operation.

He further recalled the incident in Shiroro also in Niger State on February 18, 2021, where gunmen attacked and killed one person, injured two and abducted an uncertain number.

Idem said, “The House is devastated that the affected pupils and their families will be deeply traumatised, especially the family of the deceased pupil. One can only imagine how the abductees will be faring under the armed bandits, and what kind of reorientation they will be receiving, leaving their parents, guardians and relations to suffer insomnia.

“The House is saddened that the abductors released images of their location and one of them was holding a rocket-propelled grenade, a shoulder-fired missile that launches rockets equipped with an explosive warhead, which only Federal Government could grant the licence. The abducted persons could also be seen sitting on the floor and covered in dust.

“The House notes that the recent happening, particularly in Niger State, is horrible and the government must move swiftly to curtail this menace, else we will soon have a nation of perpetual anarchy.”

Source: https://m.punchng.com/News/NGF-considers-talks-with-bandits-others

Let's not kid ourselves, Nigerian Government can't protect us, they are utterly useless

If dialogue which is very very wrong would mean a permanent end to insecurities then let's give it a trail


.

These guys are setting bad precedence. They are encouraging tsephanyah and his gang of murderers to thrive.

It has become so bad that tsephanyah has lost every sense of humanity to rejoice over the aimless murder perpetrated by his Fulani tribe.

He brazenly declared that he is proud of the aimless murder perpetrated by his Fulani tribe.

tsephanyah is morally dead. If all fulanis are like him, then the Fulani tribe is a bad tribe, a tribe that should never be allowed to live among humans.

tsephanyah is an off shoot of buhari's bad, segmental, bias leadership.

Mission almost accomplished, amnesty loading...

On to the next armed group. Soon our entire budget would be used to pay criminals stipends so they don't go back to crime.

Bandit are not terrorist, they only fight to protect themselves
Herdsmen are not killers, they are only protecting their cows
Book haram are not deadly. They are only protecting their believe.

IPOB are the real terrorist, killers and are very deadly.

Peaceful protest are the real criminal hence they should be arrested and jailed.

What an irony of a country

As you are having a plan of talking to bandits, don't forget to include Ipob and Niger Delta militants.

Those 2 concerns are more legit than what bandits and BH are demanding for

Nigeria governors fools

Too bad

You mean negotiate with the "Saints"
Paying them whatever money they need, they use it to buy more sophisticated weapons and commit the same thing again and again, while the government pay them again and again whenever they ask?
Fools, old fools, playing games that we the masses know. Favouring one region, silent on another and mercilessly attacking the other.
Idiots.

[left][/left]

See the country I found myself, I still can't believe how I got here.

A section of the country crying about marginalization for ages without carrying weapons are branded as terrorists with the army sent to crush them. Another section crying same marginalization but carrying weapons and creating havocs everywhere are branded bandits and they are about to be negotiated with and pampered. My blood boils now.

These guys parading as leaders knows they don't know Jack, why can't we just divide this country for heavens sake? Why the open charade and deception?

Booby-trapped Administration of Buhari

T

Damnnn niggarrrr
Pussy ass government negotiating with bandit

Nuts men

Omo x1000


These people deep inside of them know that what they are doing is not good.

Time go come unah go still consider talk with yahoo boys

You people want to dialogue with bandits but shoot aside Igbos.

It might not make sense but it’s obvious this bandit of a thing is all about showing off they have there son in power and to some extent he wouldn’t do anything to hurt them,this bandits have been in existence before Buhari came into power but now they are bold enough to do whatever they like without considering the consequences........It is very certain they will lay low after 2023 election but how much destruction and loss of properties would the country experience before then is the problem without concrete solution......Negotiation isn’t and wouldn’t be a solution now or in the future,you give them money they get more weapons and they get stronger and bolder,the government shouldn’t think rationally for once!!!

Any one still deceiving himself in the Nigerian military os wasting his life

Our common wealth is been used to settle criminals....


Nawao

This is a great move from Nigerian governors
When inviting them please host them in Hilton
They are just bandits
They are take care of people
They don't kill
They are very friendly

Everything in dx country just dey go in zig zag form

inside life

Go

Bandits are terrorists.

You fight them to the last. If you're serious about it.









Are you tired of buying fake branded electronics like Tvs, Microwaves, Washing machines, etc both online and offline?
Do you want to get value for money spent on these electronics?

Values like: Warranty, Swift Customer service experience, etc. Nothing to worry about any longer.

I procure original household appliances and electronics directly from companies like Hisense, LG, Nexus, Midea, Samsung, that meets your every need.

Delivery �: Lagos takes 24hrs. Outside Lagos: 3-5days. WhatsApp: 08125667454.

What are these guys really fighting for...that they are being pampered in such manner but are quick to use force on other region who are fighting for a just cause. I never still understand

That's the only language, this government understands......


When unarmed civilians react, they use the Army & Police to suppress them.......

With other bandits, terrorists, agitators etc, they would negotiate.........

Okay nowwww......They are emboldening these Folks and NGF think they can finish what they have started