Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State stated that one cannot genuinely advocate for justice or the underprivileged while simultaneously compensating bandits. He emphasized that instead of rewarding those who engage in violence, his government prioritizes assistance for the victims. Sani made these remarks during a question-and-answer session on Arise Television’s Prime Time program. He pointed out that the insecurity affecting the North-West primarily stems from economic conditions, in contrast to the ideological motives behind Boko Haram in the North-East. In response to criticisms regarding alleged negotiations or payments to bandits, Sani argued that such claims are inconsistent with his ongoing push for justice. He said: “To address security issues, we must carefully analyze the symptoms and causes of insecurity.” I concur with you that Boko Haram largely stems from ideological factors. However, when discussing insurgency in the northwest, the issue is fundamentally economic. This is why, upon our arrival, I emphasized that we couldn’t solely rely on a military strategy to address the issue. When I began, I faced criticism from many who accused me of attempting to appease the criminals. I explained to them that a person who stands up for justice and the oppressed cannot simply sit down and negotiate with criminals. Thus, they were taken aback just two weeks ago when I unveiled my initiative, which involved providing homes to the victims of insurgency rather than compensating or rewarding the bandits. “I haven’t provided any money to the bandits, but I have constructed homes for the victims of banditry in Kaduna state.”
