“We Do Not Want To Negotiate With Government,” Northern Terrorists Tell Nigerian Government

In a shocking display of non-compliance, armed bandits in Northern Nigeria have openly rejected meaningful dialogue with the government, attending peace talks in Katsina State alongside AK-47s, RPGs, and other military-grade weapons. The spectacle, which unfolded in mid-September 2025 across local government areas like Jibia, Batsari, and Danmusa, has drawn national outrage.

What is jaw-dropping to many is the fact that one notorious bandit kingpin, Kachalla Ummaru, reportedly declared, “If today you kill 10 bandits, tomorrow you’ll see 20. You kill 20, another 30 will rise both in our bushes and villages” a chilling rebuke that stands as a clear mockery to the state’s authority and an exposure to the futility of its appeasement strategy. Such statement from a known bandit, which has flown without any response or decisive action from the governments, plunges the public into darker fears of unceasing unrest.

The Nigerian government’s posture, particularly at the state level, has been one of desperation, with officials leaning on traditional rulers and community elders to broker peace with groups admittedly responsible for thousands of deaths and mass displacement.

Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina confirmed that peace accords exist in at least 11 local councils, yet these deals lack any framework for disarmament or accountability. Critics argue that the government’s willingness to negotiate with wanted criminals like Ado Aleru and Bello Turji, who attended talks, flaunting arms without and not surrendering them, amounts to a national embarrassment.

What makes this situation even more damning is what has been perceived as the glaring double standard in how the Nigerian state treats insecurity across regions. While Northern terrorists are courted with dialogue and EU-backed reintegration programs, Southern agitators, particularly in the South East, face brutal crackdowns. The continued detention of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, despite court orders for his release, stands in stark contrast to the government’s leniency toward Northern insurgents. This imbalance has fueled accusations of ethnic bias and selective justice.

Human rights advocates and legal experts have condemned the peace talks as unconstitutional and morally bankrupt. Bulama Bukarti, a prominent lawyer, described the meetings as “nothing short of intimidation,” arguing that the government has surrendered its legitimacy by allowing armed criminals to dictate terms. Civic groups like the Citizens for Equity and Justice Initiative (CEJI) have called for an end to what they term “state-sponsored surrender,” warning that such appeasement only emboldens terror.

As Nigeria grapples with one of its most complex security crises, the optics of armed bandits lecturing government officials at peace tables have left many citizens disillusioned. The question now is not whether peace is possible—but whether the government still commands the moral and constitutional authority to enforce it. Until the state applies a uniform standard of justice across all regions, its credibility will remain in question, and its citizens will continue to pay the price.

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