Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Bashir Dalhatu, has urged the Federal Government to blend negotiation with military force to combat insecurity in northern Nigeria, citing proven success from similar strategies elsewhere.
Appearing on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Friday, Dalhatu proposed adapting the Niger Delta amnesty programme, which rehabilitated militants through education and reintegration, to address bandits lacking basic opportunities like schooling and urban exposure.
He emphasized extending a “hand of friendship” to bandits while imposing strict penalties for crimes, noting an ongoing northern debate between pure military hawks and dialogue advocates, with evidence favoring the combined model.
Dalhatu rejected claims of elite complicity in banditry, stressing that security forces already mix operations with talks and have achieved gains with public backing.