The vice-presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has said he would engage terrorists and other criminal groups in dialogue if elected in 2027, while also rebuilding public trust in security agencies to tackle insecurity.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Kwankwaso said residents of communities affected by insecurity often know the identities and locations of those behind attacks but are reluctant to share such information with security agencies.
According to him, many communities have lost confidence in the authorities after previous attempts to provide intelligence allegedly exposed them to danger.
“In places affected by insecurity, people know almost everything. They know the locations and the names of those involved, but many are afraid to come forward because of what happened to those who did so in the past,” he said.
Kwankwaso said restoring trust between communities and security agencies would be a key part of his administration’s strategy if elected president in 2027.
He added that his government would also engage terrorists and other criminal elements in dialogue as part of efforts to end violence.
“We will give people confidence. We will work with the people, even the terrorists and the criminals themselves, to see what can be done to discourage their actions,” he said.
Responding to a question on whether he would negotiate with terrorists, Kwankwaso replied, “Of course, we will talk to everybody.”
He, however, stressed that dialogue would not replace the use of force where necessary, saying security agencies and the military would continue to play a vital role in addressing threats to national security.
“If there is any issue that requires the services of the military or other security agencies, we will be very happy to deploy them,” he added.