By Olakunle Maruf

Copyright tribuneonlineng

The Northern Elders Progressive Group (NEPG) has appealed to governors in the North-West to throw their weight behind ongoing peace talks with bandits, saying dialogue offers the best chance of ending years of bloodshed in the region.

NEPG’s Northwest Coordinator, Malam Yusuf Abubakar, told journalists that the group is encouraged by the non-military peace efforts led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, alongside other security stakeholders.

“We are happy with the steps being taken so far. Travelling recently from Sokoto to Gusau, and from Funtua to Zaria, I observed a more peaceful atmosphere. Compared to before, there is improvement in security, in patrols, and in the safety of commuters along that road,” Abubakar said.

He urged governors to focus more on dialogue and preventive measures instead of repeated condolence visits and costly military operations that stretch the country’s security resources.

“It is better for a governor to spend his resources on saving lives than spending billions on condolence. One life is far more important than any political gesture,” he said.

Responding to critics opposed to negotiating with armed groups, Abubakar stressed that dialogue is a globally tested approach.

“Even powerful nations have negotiated with the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and the Houthis. Negotiation is not a weakness; it is about saving lives,” he explained.

Abubakar also took a swipe at governors who publicly claim to know the whereabouts of bandits yet fail to share actionable intelligence with security forces.

“It is unbecoming of a leader to say he knows the movements of criminals but does nothing with the information. Such propaganda is irresponsible,” he warned.

He further defended the NSA and the committee working on the peace process, cautioning against attempts to politicise or discredit their efforts.

“The Office of the National Security Adviser represents unity, peace, and security for the country. Attacking it is an attempt to destabilise the whole nation,” he said.

The group praised Senator Shehu Buba, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Intelligence, and other eminent Nigerians for their tireless efforts in brokering dialogue between communities and armed groups.

“They have worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the dialogue despite being insulted and maligned by certain groups sponsoring lies and propaganda—especially targeting the positive initiatives of the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu,” Abubakar said.

NEPG called on all governors in the Northwest to work closely with the NSA, the Minister of Defence, and Service Chiefs to give the peace initiative a chance to succeed.

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