Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Bashir Dalhatu, has called on the Federal Government to consider combining negotiation with military force in tackling insecurity, saying the dual approach has yielded results in other parts of the country.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show programme on Friday, Dalhatu said an approach similar to the Niger Delta amnesty programme could be explored in northern Nigeria.
“I remember very well when there was an amnesty programme in the Niger Delta during those chaotic times. And it has worked perfectly,” Dalhatu said.
He noted that many bandits lack basic opportunities such as education and exposure to urban life, and urged the government to extend a “hand of friendship” while maintaining strict penalties for criminal acts.
According to him, a fierce debate is ongoing in the North between those who support a purely military response and those advocating dialogue.
He said evidence suggests that a mix of the two strategies has been effective in several instances.
Citing the Niger Delta amnesty programme, Dalhatu said the initiative successfully rehabilitated militants by providing education and reintegration support, adding that a similar model could be considered for the North.
He stressed, however, that engagement must not be mistaken for condoning crime.
He said: “Most of these bandits have not had the opportunity to go to school, have not had the opportunity to actually enjoy what we ordinarily do in the cities. And it’s just for the government to probably, while extending hands of friendship, but also making it quite clear that what they are doing is illegal and criminal, and those that are caught in the process are punished.”
The Federal government of Nigeria should give Fulani ethnic militias (Bandits) amnesty and money like Niger Delta militants
— Jayjam Adebayo (@HeIsJayjam) November 28, 2025
– Arewa consultative forum leader pic.twitter.com/P4AeKDxB15
Dalhatu acknowledged that security forces already combine military operations with occasional negotiations, noting that recent government efforts, backed by public support, have recorded some gains.
The amnesty programme started in 2009 when President Musa Yar’Adua offered militants in the Niger Delta after they handed over their guns and swore off violence.
In return, the government promised to give them a monthly stipend, send them for training or school, and help them start a new life.
Over the years, more than 30,000 ex-fighters have gone through the program. Many got vocational skills, some earned degrees abroad, and a good number now run small businesses. Violence dropped sharply and has stayed low compared to the 2000s.
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