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Northern leaders have rejected the suggestion made by former governor of Zamfara State, Malam Yerima Sani, for President Bola Tinubu to negotiate with terrorists and bandits and grant them amnesty, similar to what was done for Niger Delta militants during the administration of the late Umaru Yar’Adua. The leaders argue that such negotiations would be futile since the bandits lack centralized leadership and have a history of reneging on agreements reached in the past.

Various Northern leaders expressed their disagreement with the proposal. Chief Iorbee Ihagh, the President General of Mzough U Tiv and Chairman of three sociocultural/ethnic groups in Benue State, stated that negotiating with bandits and terrorists was unacceptable. He claimed that these criminals were initially brought into the country from West Africa to aid certain individuals in winning elections in 2015 but turned to banditry and terrorism when the agreements were not honored. He emphasized that President Tinubu should not entertain the idea of negotiating with criminals and that the focus should be on apprehending them. He also called for armed herders to return to their original locations, allowing internally displaced persons to return home.

Bishop Pinot Ogbaji, the State Vice Chairman of the APC Benue South District, expressed shock at the suggestion of negotiating with terrorists and bandits. While acknowledging the importance of dialogue in certain situations, he questioned the nature and purpose of the proposed negotiations. He argued that negotiation should not be an option, but amnesty could be considered for those who genuinely repent and undergo reorientation.

Dr. Bitrus Pogu, the National President of the Middle Belt Forum, criticized the idea of negotiating with terrorists unless the person suggesting it is somehow connected to them. He emphasized that negotiating with terrorists would only endorse criminality and encourage non-state actors to engage in similar activities in the future. He advocated for a strong approach to crush the bandits and eradicate them, ensuring that anyone contemplating similar actions would think twice. He also called for the prosecution of individuals involved in propagating terrorism.

Ishaq Usman Kasai, the Chairman of the Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressives Union, highlighted the lack of understanding displayed by Yerima’s proposal. He stated that dislodging all bandit camps in various forests was necessary to effectively end armed banditry in Nigeria. Kasai argued that negotiations with bandits would not yield positive results, as past experiences demonstrated that they exploited such opportunities to regroup, acquire more arms, and continue their violent activities. He warned that negotiating with bandits would send a dangerous message, indicating the government’s weakness and endorsing parallel governments within the country. He cited previous failed negotiations with bandits in Zamfara and other states as evidence of the futility of such approaches.

In another news, a panel of inquiry commissioned by the Anambra State Government confirmed that Mmesoma Ejikeme forged her Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) result. The panel’s eight-page report revealed that Mmesoma manipulated her score, claiming to have obtained the highest score of 362 when her actual score was 249. The panel recommended that Mmesoma issue a written apology to the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), her school, and the state government. It also suggested that she undergo psychological counseling and therapy. The panel was established by Governor Chukwuma Soludo to investigate the controversy surrounding Mmesoma’s UTME result, and its findings were made public.