Ex-governor of Zamfara State, Ahmad Yerima, has encouraged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bethink dialogue with bandits to eliminate insecurity problem in the North-West region of Nigeria.
In a BBC Hausa interview, the former governor had called on governors in the North-West to have a dialogue with bandits terrorising the region.
“The best way to go about handling the issue of bandits is to introduce dialogue first. But as I said, if that fails, then the government will go all out to eliminate them,” he said.
Yerima said Tinubu should consider an amnesty programme for bandits in the North, like the late President Umar Yar’Adua did for the Niger Delta militants.
“I believe that the Nigerian military has the capacity to deal with them (bandits) if so directed and given the resources, support, and political will.
“But the collateral damages that will be associated with the actions to be taken are what I believe should be avoided. If you send an aircraft now, not only bandits will be affected.
“Former President Umaru Yar’Adua had a similar interaction with the militants in the Niger Delta, and it was successful,” Yerima said.
The ex-governor also revealed that the President directed him to intervene in ongoing tensions between the current Zamfara Governor, Dauda Lawal, and his predecessor, Bello Matawalle.
Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party defeated Matawalle of the All Progressives Congress in the March 18 governorship election.
The new governor alleged that Matawalle made off with official vehicles, television sets, refrigerators, and gas cookers from the Government House before handing over power.
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