By Muhammad Mamman
igeria’s Minister of Defence, retired General Christopher Musa, has issued a stern warning to state governments against negotiating or maintaining peace agreements with armed bandits, describing such arrangements as dangerous and counter-productive.
Speaking at a security briefing on Tuesday, General Musa emphasised that informal or unilateral deals with criminal gangs undermine national security and could embolden violent groups across the country.
“Any arrangement with bandits, whether temporary or long-term, is a direct threat to national security,” he said, urging state authorities to prioritise coordinated federal-led strategies over ad hoc settlements.
The Defence Minister’s warning comes amid rising insecurity in parts of Nigeria, particularly in the northwest and north-central regions, where banditry has resulted in mass kidnappings, attacks on communities, and widespread displacement.
Security analysts say that while some states have resorted to negotiating with bandits to reduce immediate violence, such deals often fail to provide lasting solutions and may even encourage further criminal activity.
General Musa called for stronger collaboration between federal and state security agencies, enhanced intelligence sharing, and sustained military operations to tackle banditry at its roots.
He also reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting citizens while ensuring that security operations respect human rights and the rule of law.
The Defence Minister’s comments mark one of the most explicit federal statements against state-level banditry agreements, signalling a tougher stance in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against organised crime and insurgency.
