Former Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd.), has urged the Federal Government to reject any offers of surrender from bandits terrorising communities across Nigeria, calling instead for a decisive and total military offensive to eliminate them.
Babangida made the call in a statement posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, where he advocated a hardline security approach to address the worsening state of insecurity in the country.
According to the former leader, security agencies must prioritise the complete neutralization of armed bandits before considering any form of dialogue or negotiation, warning that accepting surrender prematurely could weaken the fight against criminality.
“While the bandits are pleading for surrender, we must not accept their plea until every one of them is neutralised and eliminated,” Babangida stated.
He further argued that once the armed groups are decisively dealt with, individuals he described as negotiators and sympathisers should be invited by security agencies for thorough questioning. Babangida specifically mentioned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, and others, stressing the need for accountability in the fight against insecurity.
The former Head of State’s remarks have sparked widespread reactions on social media, with Nigerians expressing mixed opinions over his hardline stance.
While some users welcomed Babangida’s position, others raised concerns about consistency in public opinion. A social media user, Dr. Jay, endorsed the call, arguing that individuals perceived as sympathisers of bandits should already be under security scrutiny.
Babangida’s intervention comes amid renewed national debates on the most effective strategy to combat banditry, insurgency and rising insecurity across several regions of the country, as calls grow louder for a more robust and uncompromising security response.
