We’ll not negotiate with bandits, kidnappers — El-Rufa’i insists

Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state has reiterated his administration’s stance not to negotiate with bandits, saying that his job as governor is to enforce the law and help to prosecute people who commit offenses.

El-Rufai restated his government’s position during an expanded meeting of the State Security Council which held at the Council Chambers of Sir Kashim Ibrahim House on Tuesday.

In addition to regular members from the state government, security agencies and traditional rulers, the meeting featured religious leaders and invited guests from professional associations, trade unions and civil society groups.

“We will not engage with bandits or kidnappers. Private citizens like clerics and clergy men can do so in their individual capacities, to preach to them and ask them to repent. We also want them to repent but it is not our job ask them to do so,” he added.

According to him, the best way to solve the farmer-herder clashes, cattle rustling and banditry is for nomadic herdsmen to live more sedentary lives in order for them to be more productive and give their children education and access to better healthcare.

The governor argued that nomadic or transhumance cattle breeding has been rendered obsolete by urbanisation and population growth as most of the cattle routes have been taken over by development.

El-Rufai said that Kaduna State Government is implementing a big ranching project in Damau Grazing Reserve in Kubau local government, adding that the project will make about 1,500 herdsmen sedentary.

He further emphasised that the project will enable the herders   to raise their cattle in a facility with pastures, a school and a Primary Health Centre, with a commercial partner ready to buy their milk.

The governor commended the security agents for all their efforts to keep Kaduna state residents safe, in spite of the challenges that they are facing.

He also called for decentralisation of the police force, maintaining that Nigeria is the only federation that operates a unitary police force that is funded by but not controlled by state governments.