- The governor, however, evaded question on if his administration granted forgiveness to the bandits for the atrocities they committed in the past.
Kaduna State Government has disclosed that bandits terrorising residents of the State were not financially-induced to surrender their weapons.
Governor Uba Sani made the disclosure on Friday during an exclusive interview with Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“We did not give them one naira,” the governor said when asked if the state government made a financial bargain for the bandits to lay down their arms.
“There was no monetary issue at all. Most of them are tired, we sat down with them and asked them, ‘Why do you continue to remain in the bush just attacking our people, kidnapping them?”
The state government had on Thursday received the first set of repentant bandits in Birnin-Gwari and reopened the cattle market, which had been closed for about 10 years due to insecurity in the area.
The development marked a significant progress in the state government’s efforts to tackle the security challenges that have enveloped the state for years.
The governor, however, evaded question on if his administration granted forgiveness to the bandits for the atrocities they committed in the past.
Governor Sani noted that it took his administration six months to broker peace with the bandits.
“It is a process that took almost six months precisely to reach this position. Birnin Gwari is one of the most critical local governments in terms of banditry, kidnapping and insurgency in the North-West.
“We also partner with the federal security agencies, the office of the National Security Adviser. So it’s is a collective effort,” Sani added.
According to the governor, the disarmament, mobilisation and integration of the repentant bandits are in process