SECURITY EXPERT BASHIR KURFI CALLS PEACE TALKS WITH BANDITS “TRAGEDY”, ALLEGES ARMED GROUPS CONTROL NEGOTIATIONS

 

A security analyst and Convener of the Katsina Security Community Initiative, who has served as consultants to Libyan Government under Col. Ghaddafi’s on alternative to world bank, Bashir Kurfi,, Bashir Kurfi, has criticised ongoing peace arrangements with armed groups in northern Nigeria, describing such agreements as tragedy and potentially dangerous to national security.

Speaking on Tuesday during an interview on *Frontline*, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, Kurfi questioned the structure and credibility of negotiations involving bandits, insisting that such processes often lack balance and proper safeguards. 

He argued that genuine peace processes require strict organisation, accountability, and a sincere commitment from all parties involved, drawing comparisons with conflict resolution models in other parts of Africa. He said: "Yeah, you see, they have these so-called peace agreements. But this peace agreement itself is a tragedy," 

Kurfi, however, maintained that the realities of negotiations with bandit groups in Nigeria differ significantly, alleging that armed groups often dictate the terms and conditions of engagement, including the location and security arrangements of peace meetings.

According to him: "When they are making peace agreement with these terrorists, the bandits directed where that meeting should take place. In their enclave. In the bush. They also come with their guns. How do you have peace agreement on the side of the people, the community, and the government? You go to meet with them armless, but they come with their arms."

He further referenced a violent incident involving the killing of a senior police officer, which he cited as evidence of the risks and contradictions surrounding such peace processes. 

"In fact, what was even very disheartening, there was a case when the bandits killed  one commissioner of police in my area of command in the State." he lamented. 

Kurfi also alleged that one of the bandit leaders celebrated the killing of the officer and later attended peace discussions with government representatives while wearing the slain officer’s uniform, describing the development as deeply troubling and disrespectful to security institutions.

"When he was killed, one of the bandits in chief, his name is Jankari, after killing the commissioner of police, he took out his uniform, and the following day, the whole bandits in the area had a party, because that commissioner of police was very effective. They had a party, and he wore that uniform.with his name." he said. 

He further narrated that "when they went for this so-called peace agreement, that same Jankari came to the peace discussion with the government officials, the chairman of local government district head, village head, and all these government officials, and the police themselves, and he came with the uniform of the assistant commissioner of police whom he killed. How do you see that is? Because in peace process, you should even avoid opening wounds."

KURFI LINKS BANDITRY SURGE TO MINING SITES, DRUG TRADE AND WEAK SECURITY ENFORCEMENT

In a broader critique of Nigeria’s security architecture, Kurfi questioned the effectiveness of the country’s intelligence and military systems, arguing that heavily armed state institutions appear unable to contain relatively lightly armed groups.

"You know, it shows you the ridiculous thing. You know, by looking at this present technology, the bandit who abducted that general, whom they killed, last week, they had an interview with him for over one hour. So if you are having a phone, even if it is off, you can be able to locate where you are. And if they want, he can be captured. So what is happening?" he said.

Kurfi also raised concerns about what he described as the movement of criminal elements to southern parts of the country, particularly around mining areas, where he alleged they find safer operational environments: "But there are even additional dangers I am seeing. You know, many of these bandits, I am sure, maybe some of them, they are in the southwest. Yes, the bandits, many of the bandits, even when they want to hide, even if the vigilante group are looking for them or whatever, one of the safest places they go, they go to the south. Because you have to know also."

He further linked this movement to mining activities, suggesting a possible overlap between insecurity and resource-rich environments where enforcement is weak. He said: "You know mining has a positive correlation with banditry. If you go to these places where they do mining in the bush, you will see even foreigners in the mining sites. And in the middle of the forest, but they will never attack that mining area. So which means there is some collaboration. Because if there is no collaboration, how can you are in the middle of the forest and nobody attack you, and all the mining workers who go to those kind of places, nobody stop them, no bandits stop them." 

Kurfi also alleged that mining communities in parts of the country have become hubs for various illicit activities, warning that such environments may inadvertently provide cover and incentives that sustain criminal networks while worsening broader insecurity challenges.

"And when you go to the mining area, they have all level of alcohol, you can get the drugs, you can get the prostitutes, and then they have all these musicians going there to make money, and all this kind of thing, and they will be singing for their money. So, that's why also the Bandit have some relief in terms of something. This is what is happening" he said. 

Kurfi warned that the infiltration of drugs and criminal enterprise into such environments could further worsen insecurity, stressing the need for a deeper structural response to Nigeria’s security crisis.

He further urged policymakers and security stakeholders to critically examine the broader structural factors driving insecurity, stressing that the situation requires a more comprehensive understanding of the social and economic dynamics within affected areas.

According to him, "So, a serious country will have to look at the implication of this kind of things. These and these, are what is happening in the country. But you cannot dismiss this without taking the contradictions of the system."

He concluded by arguing that insecurity in Nigeria cannot be addressed without confronting underlying social and economic contradictions, which he believes continue to fuel criminality and instability across the country.