Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has expressed a willingness to engage in peace talks with bandits, but only if they lay down their arms and end hostilities.
Speaking to BBC Hausa, Lawal emphasized that security forces had achieved significant victories, neutralizing over 50 bandits, including notorious kingpins loyal to Bello Turji.
While signaling a shift from his previous hardline stance, Lawal stressed that any dialogue must be sincere. “A lot of people have suffered; we must prioritize their recovery,” he said.
The governor warned that his administration would not tolerate deceptive truces, stating, “They must either surrender or face decisive action.”