Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Kano State Governor and vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election, has said that if elected, his administration would be open to dialogue with terrorists and other criminal elements as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.
Kwankwaso, who is running mate to presidential candidate Peter Obi, made the remark during an interview on Channels Television on Monday.
He described dialogue as a key component of a broader strategy to discourage attacks and restore peace.
According to him, residents in communities affected by insecurity often know the identities and locations of those responsible for the violence.
However, many are reluctant to share this information with security agencies due to past negative experiences.
“You see, all these things that are happening today, if you go to localities, those places that these insecurities are happening, I can tell you people know almost everything,” Kwankwaso said.
“They know their locations, they know the names of all those involved, and so on and so forth.”
He noted that communities have lost confidence in the system, adding that his administration would focus on rebuilding trust between residents and security agencies.
This includes direct engagement with terrorists and criminals to persuade them to abandon violence and lay down their arms.
“So we will give people confidence. We will work on the people, even the terrorists, and of course, the criminals themselves, to see what can be done really to discourage their action,” he explained.
When asked directly if he would hold talks with terrorists, Kwankwaso replied affirmatively: “Of course, we will talk to everybody.”
He however clarified that dialogue would not replace military or security operations where necessary. “And of course, if there is any issue that will require the services of the military or other security agencies, I can tell you, we will be very happy to do it,” he added.
The statement comes as insecurity remains a major challenge across Nigeria, with ongoing banditry, kidnapping, and insurgency in different parts of the country.
Kwankwaso’s position reflects a combination of soft-power engagement and conventional security measures.
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