Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), has issued a firm warning to state governments, cautioning them against entering or sustaining peace deals with bandits, describing such arrangements as dangerous, counter-productive, and a threat to national security.
The minister stressed that **bandits are not trustworthy and that negotiations only embolden criminal networks, weaken military operations, and prolong insecurity.
According to him, the Federal Government’s position is clear: there will be no negotiated settlements, no ransom payments, and no legitimisation of armed groups terrorising communities.
He urged governors to align with federal security strategy, emphasising that sustained military pressure, intelligence-led operations, and community cooperation remain the only viable path to restoring peace.
The warning comes amid growing public outrage over reports of state-level peace initiatives and planned releases of suspected bandits, moves critics say undermine justice and demoralise security forces.
General Musa also appealed to citizens to stop aiding bandits with food, money, or information, warning that such support fuels violence and delays national stability.
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