By Ify Okoli
Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential
candidate, Rabi'u Kwankwaso, has said an Obi-Kwankwaso administration would be
prepared to engage everyone, including terrorists and other criminals, as part
of efforts to address the country's worsening insecurity if elected in 2027.
Speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels
Television on Monday, Kwankwaso said lasting peace would require dialogue
alongside stronger cooperation with local communities, insisting that every
possible avenue should be explored to end the violence affecting many parts of
the country.
"We will work with the people, even the terrorists and,
of course, the criminals themselves, to see what can be done to discourage
their actions. We will talk with everybody," he said.
Kwankwaso argued that residents of communities most affected
by insecurity often know those behind attacks, including where they operate
and, in many cases, their identities. He said this local knowledge could play a
major role in tackling the problem if communities were given the confidence to
share information.
According to him, fear has stopped many people from
cooperating with security agencies. He said some residents who had previously
provided information were left vulnerable, making others unwilling to come
forward despite having valuable intelligence.
The former Kano State governor suggested that rebuilding
trust between citizens and security agencies would be a key part of any
successful strategy against terrorism and violent crime. He maintained that
people must believe they will be protected after assisting law enforcement.
Kwankwaso did not give specific details of how such
engagement with terrorists would be carried out. However, he said the NDC's
approach would combine dialogue with community involvement in a bid to reduce
violence and restore lasting security across Nigeria.
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