Ex-NYSC boss urges security agents to courageously confront bandits, says they won’t abandon activities

Ex-Director General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig-Gen Maharazu Tsiga, retired Brig.-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga, rtd, said bansits and terrorists are human and security agents must be decisive and coordinated in tackling them.

He said negotiations cannot bring criminal activities to an end in Nigeria, insisting that bandits will never end activities through dialogue.

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‎Tsiga spoke at the press briefing on Thursday in Kaduna which was organised by colleagues, friends and associates of late Defence Headquarters Spokesman, Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Rabe, rtd.

Sharing his opinion, Tsiga said tackling banditry and terrorism requires participation of all stakeholders, including communities, government institutions and security agencies, nothing that insecurity is increasing at alarming stage.

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‎Tsiga criticised negotiating with criminals without addressing its wider networks that support and benefit from their criminal 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.

‎Drawing his experience while in captivity, he maintained that it requires stronger action to criminal networks in order to 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 said, bandits are emboldened through collaborators who offer them support.

‎He said: “Some collaborators operate within communities and institutions, helping to sustain banditry through the supply of resources and information.”

‎He revealed while in captivity that some bandit leaders discussed acquiring ammunition from individuals with access to government resources.

He maintained that focusing on bandits attacking individuals and communities would make fight against them a mirage.

‎“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.

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