E247mag reports: Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has strongly reaffirmed his administration’s uncompromising zero-tolerance policy on banditry, declaring that his government will never pay ransom to criminal groups and has instead focused resources on supporting the victims of violence.
Speaking during a recent interview on Arise Television, Governor Sani said:
> “People were surprised only two weeks ago when I started giving houses to victims… I have not given a naira to the bandits, but I have built houses for the victims of banditry in Kaduna State.”
The governor’s comments come at a time when several states across Nigeria’s troubled northwest are grappling with escalating insecurity, with many leaders previously accused of negotiating covertly with terror gangs. But Sani insists his administration’s focus remains firmly on restoring dignity and normalcy to communities traumatized by criminal violence.
> “We are not going to negotiate with bandits, and we have made that very clear. We will not pay any ransom to anyone,” he emphasized.
Building Peace Without Paying for It
According to the governor, peace talks with armed groups—such as the recent initiative in Giwa and Birnin Gwari—were strictly based on community-level engagements and never involved financial inducement. He clarified that conditions were attached to the process, one of which required the immediate release of over 200 abductees before any dialogue could proceed.
> “Those individuals were made to release over 200 people, women and children, before we even sat with them. We told them clearly that if they want peace, the peace process must be driven by the people, by the community,” Sani said.
He added that several district heads and local clerics were instrumental in facilitating early talks:
> “The process was driven by traditional rulers, by the Imams. We told them, if you want peace, go back to your communities and submit your weapons. We will watch you.”
Rural Revival and Market Restoration
Governor Sani also used the interview to highlight the economic recovery taking place across previously inaccessible parts of the state. He revealed that daily market transactions in Birnin Gwari—once considered too dangerous for commerce—now total over ₦2 billion daily due to sustained security efforts and economic support.
> “The moment we reopened that market in Giwa, our people came back. Business people came in with livestock. We now record about ₦2 billion in daily transactions,” he stated.
The development marks a dramatic turnaround in areas long plagued by cattle rustling, extortion, and fear.
Victim-Centered Development
Rather than reward perpetrators, Sani said his administration chose to prioritize those displaced and devastated by banditry. In partnership with the Qatar Charity, his government is building homes, empowering youths, and restoring basic infrastructure across vulnerable regions.
> “We said instead of giving money to criminals, we would use that same money to support victims. That is what responsible governance should look like,” he said.
On State Police: “I Championed It Before I Became Governor”
Governor Sani also weighed in on the ongoing national debate about restructuring Nigeria’s security architecture. He revealed that he was one of the earliest advocates for state policing during his time as senator representing Kaduna Central.
> “I championed the creation of state police. When I was moving that demand, I was in the Senate—not a governor,” he recalled. “I told the president then that for us to end insecurity, we need to decentralize our policing.”
He reiterated that Nigeria’s current model of centralised security is inadequate, especially when governors are left powerless to command security agencies directly despite being the chief security officers of their states.