On the same day armed bandits attacked Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State, and abducted many students and staff members, some Nigerian lawmakers called for amnesty for repentant bandits.
While the attack on the school happened in the early hours of Wednesday, in the afternoon, the Zamfara caucus of the National Assembly called on the Federal Government to grant amnesty to repentant bandits in the country.
According to them, this is a peace initiative that allows repentant bandits to voluntarily surrender their arms and ammunition in return for government benefits such as stipends, vocational training and job opportunities.
The lawmakers, comprising of three Senators and four members of the House of Representatives, led by Sahabi Yau (representing Zamfara North in the Senate), made their demand at a press conference.
The lawmakers urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take a cue from former President Umaru Yar’Adua who granted amnesty to Niger Delta militants in 2009 saying this act will bring peace to the affected states.
Yau said when the Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, assumed office in 2019, he initiated a peace process with bandits which has helped reduce insecurity in the state.
“It is important to state that these and many other interventions have clearly reduced the killings and attacks in the state who hitherto, were daily occurrences. Today, people living in Zamfara State duly appreciate the genuine intentions and determination of the State Governor to ensure an enduring peace and the support is heart-warming.
“As we speak, people who had deserted their villages have started returning. Farmers have been returning in droves, the roads are safer today, markets have reopened, and business activities have picked up. Peace is gradually returning to Zamfara, frankly, it is important that we commend the approach of Governor Matawalle.
“It is our belief that the Federal Government should offer amnesty to those repentant bandits in the North West region because we are convinced that these repentant bandits should be encouraged to contribute positively to society. It is evidently clear that peace can also be achieved through understanding and genuine dialogue.
“This conviction comes on the heels of a similar success recorded in the Niger Delta when the late President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua granted amnesty to repentant bandits in that region. Today, the story in that once troubled area is clearly not the same.
“The amnesty worked perfectly by turning the criminal minded into productive elements and they are usefully contributing to society in various fields of endeavour. The attacks on critical infrastructure including oil installations, pipeline vandalism, and abduction of expatriates in the region have drastically reduced courtesy of the amnesty programme.
“This is a testimony that peace cannot only be achieved through the use of excessive force; it is evident that dialogue and genuine commitment of both parties is also a vital tool in tackling insecurity,” Yau said.
The Senator added that if the bandits were also educated like how the Niger Delta militants were, their agitation would have been different.
He said, “If only they are educated (bandits), the agitation would have been different. It would have been the same with the time the Niger Delta militants did their own. But unfortunately, the best way is to protect themselves and their cattle by starting to fight with sticks which turned to guns.”
