Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has said his administration would dialogue with bandits because they are Fulanis.
Bago disclosed this to State House Correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The governor said the government would consider a non-kinetic approach to resolving the issue of banditry and insecurity.
He noted that the state does not want significant military action against bandits.
According to Bago: “We are looking at two options: first, non-kinetic, as a government, we have put in machinery to start talking to the bandits.
“We have also created a ministry for nomadic and pastoral affairs to look at the issues of Fulani herdsmen.
“You also need to understand that Niger State has the largest congregation of Fulani.
“Niger State is 8.3 million hectares of land with bodies of water, and the environment is very good for grazing.
“Many Fulani across the world, not just Africa, converge in Niger State, so we don’t want them to leave; we don’t want any significant military activities; we want to talk to them.
“But if we don’t get to that level of dialogue, then probably, we have to go fully military.”
Kemi Kilani News recalls that Bandits claimed responsibility for crashed military helicopter in August 14, 2023.