KADUNA: The Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Bashir Dalhatu, has urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to adopt a balanced strategy that blends military action with constructive negotiation in tackling banditry and terrorism.
Dalhatu warned that the government’s current security approach is failing to deliver lasting results.
Speaking on Arise Television on Friday, he argued that northern Nigeria could benefit from a model similar to the Niger Delta amnesty programme, where dialogue, rehabilitation and decisive force were combined to restore order.
The former minister and senior northern statesman noted that the region remains divided between those calling for a full-scale military campaign and others who believe structured dialogue backed by clear consequences could help reduce violence.
According to him, many armed groups in the North are driven by illiteracy, lack of exposure and limited economic opportunities, challenges he said must be addressed alongside kinetic operations.
“Most of these bandits have not had the opportunity to go to school or enjoy basic amenities that we ordinarily have in the cities, he said.
Dalhatu maintained that offering a hand of friendship while being firm about the criminality of their actions could encourage some groups to surrender. He stressed, however, that offenders must still face appropriate punishment.
Citing the Niger Delta amnesty programme, he recalled how thousands of militants abandoned armed struggle after receiving structured education, vocational training and reintegration support.
He admitted that the government already employs a mix of force and occasional dialogue but insisted that a more coordinated and deliberate version of this hybrid strategy backed by strong political will is needed to curb the worsening insecurity across northern states.
“There is a fierce debate in the North, he noted, but evidence suggests that combining both approaches has produced results in the past.
Dalhatu added that recent military operations have achieved modest gains, especially where communities partner with security agencies, but warned that without a more intentional engagement framework, the cycle of violence is likely to persist.
