“I Will Never Sit Down On The Negotiations Table With Terrorists” – Zamfara Gov. Vows

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has foreclosed any chances of indulging and negotiating with banditry elements operating in the State.

This was as he vowed to continue dangling the stick until insurgency and other forms of criminal activities are defeated.

Lawal’s position is coming against the backdrop of the growing tendency by Governors, especially those from the Northern region to engage in negotiations with banditry kingpins.

But speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, Governor Lawal, whose State has remained one of the epicentres of terrorist activities, including violent attacks, kidnappings, killings and wanton destruction of properties, maintained that no terrorist is stronger than the Government.

“I do not accept that terrorists are stronger than Government. Therefore, as Governor of Zamfara state, I maintain that I will not negotiate with terrorists”, Lawal vowed.

According to him, insurgency and all its associated problems – Killings , kidnappings , violent destructions etc – have not disappeared in some states where authorities have engaged the terrorists.

While not condemning any of his  colleagues and or  authorities’ that have chosen to negotiate with terrorists, Governor Lawal insisted that such an approach is totally not an option for him in the quest to tackle criminality in Zamfara state.

He emphasized that indulging terrorists in any form whatsoever, including negotiations, has the dangerous potential of sending out a wrong message, undermining constituted authorities, and eroding public confidence ,and trust.

“Even in states where negotiations have taken place, have attacks completely stopped? Some say there has been improvement but how can a Government sit down with criminals and be negotiating? That would imply that terrorists are stronger than the state”, Gov Lawal stated.