Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has declared that armed bandits responsible for the wave of killings and kidnappings ravaging northern Nigeria do not deserve a second chance, insisting that they are terrorists who “must be eliminated”. Speaking on Wednesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Sani delivered a blunt and uncompromising verdict on the criminal groups that have turned vast swathes of the North-West into a theatre of death.
“I don’t believe they deserve a second chance because, in my opinion, they are terrorists,” Sani said. “When you call them terrorists, it means they are people who have killed innocent citizens. Certainly, they have no right to live, they must be eliminated”.
The governor, whose state has been one of the hardest hit by banditry, kidnapping, and communal violence, rejected any notion of rehabilitation or reintegration for individuals who have taken lives. “For me, I don’t believe when someone kills someone, you should just allow him to live again. When he’s a terrorist, he’s a terrorist,” Sani insisted. “A terrorist is a terrorist, meaning he’s someone that can kill, he can destroy, and as such, should be killed”.
Sani lamented the devastation caused by bandits across communities in Nigeria, noting that they have killed innocent people and abducted others, including women and children. He argued that the scale of violence carried out by bandits against communities had left no basis for granting them another opportunity. The governor’s remarks come amid growing frustration among residents of the North-West, where bandit attacks have displaced thousands, crippled agricultural livelihoods, and overwhelmed security forces.
While Sani’s position aligns with the hardline stance of many security analysts and community leaders who argue that bandits should be treated as terrorists and dealt with decisively, it also places him at odds with voices advocating for dialogue and amnesty as pathways to peace. The Kaduna State Government has previously pursued peace deals with some armed groups, but Sani’s latest comments suggest a significant shift in his administration’s rhetoric, if not its policy.
The governor’s declaration has drawn mixed reactions across the country. Some have praised his boldness, arguing that only a zero-tolerance approach can end the terror gripping rural communities. Others, however, have cautioned that such uncompromising language could foreclose opportunities for negotiation and disarmament, potentially prolonging the conflict. Human rights groups have also expressed concern over the implications of extrajudicial language, urging that all actions against criminal elements must be conducted within the framework of the law.
As the North-West continues to bleed from the wounds of banditry, Governor Sani has drawn a firm line in the sand. His message to the criminals terrorising his state is unambiguous: there will be no mercy, no second chances, and no place to hide. “Bandits are terrorists,” he declared. “They have no right to live”.
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