The Sokoto State Government has defended its decision to engage in dialogue with bandits willing to lay down arms, describing it as a “strategic and pragmatic” peace-building effort rather than a sign of weakness.
In a statement issued by Col. Ahmed Usman (Rtd), Special Adviser to Governor Ahmed Aliyu on Security, the government responded to criticism by social media commentator Basharu Altine Guyawa, insisting that the policy forms part of a “stick-and-carrot strategy” anchored in both military and civil doctrine.
“We are not negotiating out of weakness, nor are we compromising justice. What we are doing is embracing a pragmatic, human-centered approach the stick-and-carrot model, consistent with the military’s kinetic and non-kinetic doctrine,” the statement read.
The government argued that insecurity in key areas Rabah, Goronyo, Isa, and Sabon Birni LGAs has displaced residents, crippled agriculture, and worsened food insecurity, requiring both force and reconciliation to address. Usman further accused Guyawa of inconsistency, recalling that the critic had previously expressed interest in mediating with armed groups. The government questioned the sincerity of his new stance.
“Our objective is clear: to restore peace, return our people to their homes, and rebuild local economies,” Usman said. He clarified that dialogue is only open to those who genuinely surrender, stressing that such individuals will be strictly supervised and rehabilitated as part of a long-term peace and reintegration framework.
The aide maintained that security operations remain ongoing where necessary but called on stakeholders to support efforts that blend firmness with reconciliation. “This is not appeasement. It is strategic reconciliation. The people deserve solutions, and that is exactly what Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration is working tirelessly to provide,” Usman concluded.
