The Northern Christian Youth Professionals have warned that the peace deals being entered into with bandits in the North-West are worsening insecurity rather than resolving it.
The organisation called on the Federal Government to urgently review the ongoing negotiations, stressing that such agreements risk emboldening criminals while undermining state authority.
Its National Public Relations Officer, Christian Oda, stated this in a statement sent to Elanza News on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him, the position was reinforced during a courtesy visit by the NCYP national delegation, led by its National Chairman, Isaac Abrak, to the Chairman of the Islamic Research and Da’awa Foundation, Sheikh Muhammad Nuru Khalid, popularly known as the Digital Imam, in Karu, Nasarawa State.
Abrak lamented that despite clerics and community leaders engaging with bandits in states such as Katsina, Zamfara and Kebbi, violent attacks had continued to rise.
He insisted that while community involvement remained important, negotiations with armed groups should be spearheaded by state security agencies such as the military and the Department of State Services, with local leaders playing supportive roles.
On the recurring farmers–herders conflict in the North-Central, Abrak urged stakeholders to emulate Rwanda’s post-genocide model, which broke cycles of revenge between Hutus and Tutsis through forgiveness and reconciliation.
He cautioned that unless Nigeria embraced similar virtues, it risked sliding into greater conflict.
In his response, Sheikh Khalid reiterated his call for interreligious tolerance as the foundation for peace, governance and development.
He endorsed NCYP’s demand for a review of the peace deals, warning that government must not appear weak or treat criminals with undue preference.
According to him, the current negotiations send the wrong message — that the state cannot hold bandits accountable for their crimes.
The cleric also cautioned against elevating the status of criminals above that of affected communities, noting that such actions could embolden future offenders.
While commending Nigeria’s security agencies for their commitment, Sheikh Khalid assured the youth group of his support in their pursuit of peace and justice across the nation.
