2027: We will engage terrorists and criminals through dialogue to end insecurity, says Kwankwaso

Nigeria Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate in the 2027 general elections, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said an Obi-Kwankwaso administration would not rule out dialogue with terrorists and other criminal groups as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Kwankwaso said the proposed engagement would complement community-based intelligence and security operations aimed at putting an end to banditry, terrorism and other violent crimes across the country.

Speaking on Politics Today, a television program monitored on Monday, the NDC vice-presidential candidate said lasting peace would require the involvement of all stakeholders, including those behind the violent attacks.

According to him, an Obi-Kwankwaso government would work closely with local communities by opening channels of communication with criminal elements to discourage them from violence.

“We will work with the people, including the terrorists and, of course, the criminals themselves, to see what can be done to deter their actions. Of course we will talk. We will talk to everyone,” he said.

Kwankwaso says residents of communities most affected by insurgency and banditry often have critical information about perpetrators, but are reluctant to cooperate with security agencies for fear of retaliation.

He said many community members know the identities, hideouts and activities of criminal gangs, but have lost confidence in the ability of security agencies to protect informants.

“If you go to the locations where these insecurities occur, people know almost everything. They know where they are, the names of the people involved and so on,” he said.

He added: “But what is happening now is that many communities are afraid to even come forward and tell the security agencies what is really happening because many of them have done it in the past and they didn’t enjoy it.”

Kwankwaso stressed that rebuilding public trust in security institutions will be a key component of the administration’s strategy, saying that citizens must be assured of adequate protection before they can freely provide information that can dismantle criminal networks.

His comments come amid ongoing concerns over rising incidents of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes in different parts of the country, with security remaining one of the dominant issues expected to influence the 2027 general election campaign.

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