By Ibrahim Hassan, Kaduna 

The Kaduna State APC Campaign Council has said that  the gubernatorial candidate of  Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Alhaji Isa Ashiru,   has a poor understanding of  insecurity  as  his solution to the problem will have   disastrous consequences.

The campaign council, in a statement, said in an interview with Arise TV, Isa Ashiru promised  to reach out to bandits and bring them to a round table, in his efforts to solve insecurity in Kaduna state, when elected governor.

The statement signed by  the Director of Strategic Communication, Malam Ibraheem Musa on Wednesday,  described   Ashiru’s plan  ‘’as a simplistic solution  to deep security and socio-political problem which manifests in criminality.’’

The APC reminded the PDP gubernatorial candidate that the federal government has formally declared bandits as terrorists, in the  ‘Terrorism (Prevention) Proscription Order Notice, 2021, which is  contained in Volume 108 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette.

The APC Campaign Council pointed out that ‘’no sovereign state or subnational should negotiate with terrorists because these people are criminals whose modus operandi is incompatible with civilized norms.’’

‘’The only way to deal with them is to treat them in the language that they understand, which is to take the battle to their hideouts and attack them to submission, which our gallant Armed Forces are now doing,’’ the statement said.

The Director of Strategic Communication reminded Ashiru that ‘’states which  followed the ill fated plan of negotiating with bandits and entering a peace deal with them, ended up regretting it.’’

‘’The so called repentant bandits did not only return to their old ways of killing and kidnapping for ransom, they became more ferocious because they acquired more sophisticated weapons to restock their arsenal,’’ he added.

The statement reminded the PDP gubernatorial candidate that the war against banditry  requires a multi-prong approach and collaboration between states and federal government, more boots on the ground and a constitution amendment that allows for state police.

The APC Campaign Council pointed out that Kaduna State Government has been supporting security agencies with logistics, adding that it is the first subnational to have a full fledged ministry that is devoted to security.