Former Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), retired Brig.-Gen. Maharazu Tsiga, has called for a more decisive and coordinated approach to tackling insecurity, insisting that negotiations alone will not end banditry and terrorism in Nigeria.
Tsiga made the remarks on Thursday in Kaduna while speaking with journalists at a press briefing organised by colleagues, friends and associates of the late retired Maj.-Gen. Abubakar Rabe.
Reflecting on his experience in captivity, the retired general said terrorist and bandit groups were unlikely to voluntarily abandon their activities through dialogue alone, stressing that stronger security measures were needed to dismantle their operations.
According to him, security is a collective responsibility that requires the commitment of government, security agencies and citizens.
“These people are human beings like us; they fear death and they fear being confronted. If we remove that fear through decisive action and face them squarely, we will achieve more meaningful results than endless negotiations,” he said.
Tsiga also expressed concern over the activities of informants and collaborators whom he alleged provide support to criminal groups, claiming that some operate within local communities and even government institutions.
Recalling conversations he said he heard while in captivity, the retired general alleged that some bandit leaders discussed obtaining ammunition through individuals with access to government resources, suggesting that criminal groups benefit from insider assistance.
“Who exactly are we negotiating with? You may negotiate with the bandits, but those supplying them and profiting from the conflict will not allow peace to prevail because they are more interested in financial gain than the lives and property of innocent citizens,” he stated.
He urged the authorities to intensify efforts against banditry while encouraging communities to play a more active role by supporting security agencies with credible information.
According to Tsiga, military operations alone cannot succeed without public cooperation and intelligence sharing.
“If the Army is doing its part and society fails to support those efforts, then we have all failed. Security is a collective responsibility,” he said.
The retired general further encouraged communities not to give in to fear, arguing that bandits often exploit panic rather than numerical strength to carry out attacks.
“When only a few armed men can force hundreds or even thousands of people to flee, it shows the need for collective action. Communities must work together with security agencies to deny criminals the space to operate,” he added.
Tsiga maintained that lasting peace would only be achieved through sustained collaboration among security agencies, government institutions and citizens working together to dismantle criminal networks and those sponsoring them.
The retired military officer's comments come amid renewed calls for stronger measures to address the country's persistent security challenges in several parts of Nigeria.