Writing By Aminu Dalhatu; Editing By Godwin Duru
Former Zamfara State Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Maigandi Danmalikin Gidan Goga, has advised Governor Dauda Lawal to open communication channels with bandit groups willing to surrender as a strategy to address the lingering insecurity bedeviling the state.
Speaking in an exclusive interview, Gidan Goga described the insecurity in the North, particularly in Zamfara State, as a long-standing challenge that has persisted for over a decade due to the complex nature of banditry and the difficult terrain of the region.
According to him, banditry is a form of guerrilla warfare that cannot be effectively defeated through military force alone.
“The issue of banditry is a kind of guerrilla war, a very difficult war to fight because of many factors. Zamfara has a lot of forests and mountains, making it hard to locate and engage the bandits”
“As far as I am concerned, all wars end through talks, there is no other way apart from that”
“My advice is for the Zamfara State Government to reduce its high-handedness, any bandit ready to lay down his arms should be welcomed. Wars of this kind only end through dialogue,” he said.
Ibrahim Maigandi Danmalikin Gidan Goga appealed to the state government to collaborate with traditional rulers and religious leaders to initiate fresh peace talks with all the agitating groups for peace and stability.
“People are tired of the killings and want to live in peace. They want to travel freely, attend markets, and return to their farms. The government should work with emirs and community leaders to reach ups for dialogue,” he added.
The former commissioner commended the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for adopting a dialogue-based approach in tackling insecurity, pointing out that, the recent efforts by the NSA had led to the rescue of over 120 abducted persons in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
“People can now travel from Kaura Namoda to Shinkafi and Gusau to Anka without much difficulty because of ongoing peace discussions between community leaders and some of the bandits,” he said.
Gidan Goga who cited examples from Kaduna and Katsina states where dialogue initiatives have reportedly reduced attacks, urged Zamfara authorities to reconsider their stance against peace talks.
Ibrahim Maigandi Danmalikin Gidan Goga also said previous administrations in Zamfara had achieved relative peace through dialogue.
The former commissioner also lauded Sheikh Ahmad Gumi and Asadus Sunna in facilitating peace efforts through engagement with armed groups, described such interventions as vital in restoring stability.
Alhaji Ibrahim Danmaliki emphasized the need for a combined kinetic and non-kinetic approach, adding that dialogue and reconciliation are essential to achieving lasting peace in Zamfara and other parts of the North.
He noted that the “carrot and stick” approach, if properly implemented, could help restore normalcy across affected communities.
“Wars and conflicts everywhere in the world ultimately end through dialogue. It is therefore important for the Zamfara State Government to soften its stance and open its doors for discussions with those willing to surrender their arms”.
“Today, some local government headquarters in the state can only be accessed under military escort, while many markets remain closed due to insecurity.”
AMINU DALHATU.
