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The Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Bashir Dalhatu, has urged the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to adopt a dual strategy of negotiation and military force in the fight against banditry and terrorism.
He warned that the current approach is not delivering sustainable results.
Speaking on Arise Television on Friday, Dalhatu said northern Nigeria could benefit from a model similar to the Niger Delta amnesty programme, arguing that the combination of dialogue, rehabilitation and hard force has worked in other volatile regions.
Dalhatu, a former minister and senior northern elder, said the region is sharply divided between those insisting on an all-out military offensive and others who believe meaningful dialogue — backed by clear consequences — could help de-escalate violence.
According to him, many of the armed groups operating in the North are driven by a lack of education, exposure and economic opportunities, a reality he believes the government must confront alongside kinetic operations.
“Most of these bandits have not had the opportunity to go to school, have not had the opportunity to actually enjoy what we ordinarily do in the cities,” Dalhatu said.
He argued that offering “a hand of friendship” while firmly stating the criminal nature of their actions could help peel away those willing to surrender, adding that offenders must still face punishment where necessary.
Dalhatu pointed to the Niger Delta amnesty programme as an example of successful reintegration, noting that thousands of militants abandoned armed struggle after receiving structured education, vocational training and support.
He also admitted that the government already mixes force with sporadic negotiations, but insisted that a more coordinated version of this hybrid strategy — backed by political will — is needed to reverse the worsening insecurity across northern states.
“There is a fierce debate in the North,” he added, “but evidence suggests that combining both approaches has produced results in the past.”
Dalhatu noted that recent military operations have recorded modest gains, especially where communities cooperate with security agencies, but warned that without a more deliberate engagement strategy, the cycle of violence will continue.
