The Northern Elders for Peace and Development (NEPD) has asked governors to adopt the stance by President Muhammadu Buhari and not pay ransom to bandits.
There have been arguments on whether to negotiate with bandits or not, with Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai insisting that he will pay any ransom to criminals against what other Northern governors stand for.
However, the elders urged Northern governors to thrown their weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s caution against paying ransom to bandits.
In a statement by their National Coordinator, Engr. Zana Goni, the elders also warned against granting amnesty to terrorists.
The group said paying ransom and negotiation with bandits are the two major ingredients behind the increased activities of banditry and terrorism in the country.
It added that money meant for amnesty and negotiation should be used in procuring technologies that would aid the fight against insecurity.
The Northern elders appealed to all the Northern governors “to adopt Mr President’s position on no negotiation and amnesty for the bandits.
“We advise that they should use the money for the supposed amnesty programme, ransom and negotiations to acquire state-of-the-art technology with a view to ending insecurity on our land once and for all.”
President Buhari had, in February, stressed that his administration will not negotiate with bandits.
Speaking through his Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, President Buhari stressed that the government under his watch would continue to deal decisively with insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals.
“The Government shall continue to deal with insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and other criminals who constitute a threat to innocent citizens across the country.
“Criminals are criminals and should be dealt with accordingly without resorting to ethnic profiling.
“I have already tasked the new Service Chiefs to devise new strategies that will end this ugly situation where the lives of our people continue to be threatened by hoodlums and criminals.” He said.
