‘They Are Humans Like Us’ – Ex-General Urges Nigerians To Face Bandits, Terrorists
A former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, retired Brig.-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga, has warned that negotiations alone cannot bring an end to banditry and terrorism in Nigeria.
Tsiga called for a more decisive and coordinated approach to tackling insecurity, arguing that criminal groups would not willingly abandon their activities through dialogue.
Naijaonpoint reports that the retired general spoke on Thursday in Kaduna during a press briefing organised by colleagues, friends and associates of late retired Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Rabe.
Speaking on the growing insecurity in the country, Tsiga said the fight against banditry required the involvement of all stakeholders, including communities, government institutions and security agencies.
He questioned the effectiveness of negotiating with criminal groups without confronting the wider networks that support and benefit from their activities.
Drawing from his personal experience while in captivity, the former NYSC boss said terrorists and bandits were unlikely to surrender their operations simply because of negotiations.
According to him, stronger action was needed to dismantle their structures and restore peace.
“These people are human beings like us; they fear death and they fear being confronted. If we remove that fear through decisive action and face them squarely, we will achieve more meaningful results than endless negotiations,” he said.
Tsiga also raised concerns about individuals and groups allegedly providing support to criminal organisations.
He said some collaborators operate within communities and institutions, helping to sustain banditry through the supply of resources and information.
Recalling his experience during captivity, the retired general alleged that some bandit leaders discussed acquiring ammunition from individuals with access to government resources.
He argued that focusing only on those carrying out attacks would not solve the problem.
“Who exactly are we negotiating with? You may negotiate with the bandits, but those supplying them and profiting from the conflict will not allow peace to prevail because they are more interested in financial gain than the lives and property of innocent citizens,” he said.
Tsiga urged Nigerians to cooperate with security agencies by providing useful intelligence and supporting ongoing operations.
He said military efforts alone would not succeed without the involvement of citizens.
“If the Army is doing its part and society fails to support those efforts, then we have all failed. Security is a collective responsibility,” he said.
The retired general also encouraged communities affected by banditry to resist intimidation, saying criminals often succeed because people are afraid to challenge them.
“When only a few armed men can force hundreds or even thousands of people to flee, it shows the need for collective action. Communities must work together with security agencies to deny criminals the space to operate,” he said.
Tsiga stressed that lasting peace would only be achieved when security agencies, government authorities and citizens unite against criminal networks and those supporting them.
