MINNA — As the rainy season set in some communities prone to banditry in Niger State is considering negotiating with the bandits ahead of the farming season, though; the state government has warned them against such action.
It was gathered that the people who are predominantly farmers are ready to negotiate for ransom with the bandits to allow them to return to their communities to start planting for the season.
It was further leant that communities currently at the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Gwada and Zumba in Shiroro local government area have shown desperation to return home for the farming season.
Reacting, the commissioner for local government and internal security in the state, Mr. Emmanuel Umar told LEADERSHIP exclusively that the communities have been warned against making such a move, considering the experiences from such accords entered with bandits by some communities in the past.
He said communities who entered into such accord with the terrorists in the past paid dearly for it as the bandits turned around to not only renege but tormented the communities more than ever.
Umar said that those who are selling the idea to the people are those who want to take advantage of the situation of the people to dupe them.
“Experience of the past showed that the communities that entered into such negotiations paid dearly for it. It will be unwise to think in that direction now, I think they are just a few individuals, I know most communities are appreciative of what the government is doing,” Umar said.
He stated that the government is doing everything possible by committing a lot of resources to ensure the people go back to their villages and farms.
