Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has said he chose to support victims of bandit attacks rather than negotiate or pay money to bandits terrorizing the state.
Speaking in an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, the governor said he rejected suggestions to hold talks with criminals and instead built houses for displaced people.
“I have not given a naira to the bandits. But I have built houses for the victims of banditry in Kaduna,” Governor Sani said.
He explained that when he took office, some people wrongly believed he planned to pay bandits.
“They were criticizing me, saying I was trying to pay them. But I told them, I’m a man who fought for justice and for the less privileged. I cannot sit with bandits and pay them,” he added.
Governor Sani said his strategy involved both military and peaceful approaches, all within legal limits.
He explained that he worked directly with local communities to rebuild trust and restore peace, especially in Birnin Gwari, once known as a dangerous area.
“There was a trust deficit between communities and the so-called bandits. You cannot force reconciliation. It must come from the community,” he said.
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During a visit to Birnin Gwari, the Emir of the town revealed that most of the bandits were born there. This surprised the governor.
“I asked him, ‘So you know them, but they are killing our people?’ Even at that, I told them I would only support any peace process if they released at least 200 captives. And they did,” he said.
The bandits later demanded the reopening of grains and cattle markets that had been closed for more than 10 years. Governor Sani said he didn’t make the decision alone but worked closely with the Office of the National Security Adviser.
“We now have at least 25 to 30 trucks of cows leaving Birnin Gwari for Lagos daily. Grain markets are open, and people are doing business worth billions of naira,” he said.
Governor Sani also partnered with Qatar Charity, a global humanitarian group, to help support displaced people. He said that before he took office, 162 schools and 192 primary health centers were closed due to insecurity.
“Today, the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari highway is safe, and farmers have returned to their farmlands,” he said.
The governor repeated his support for state policing as a way to improve security. As a former senator, he had pushed for state police even before becoming governor.
“Some said governors will abuse it, but that’s a lazy argument. We need stronger security systems at the state level,” he said.