The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) and Islamic scholar Sheikh Muhammad Nuru Khalid, popularly known as the Digital Imam, have urged the Federal Government to review ongoing peace agreements with bandits in the North West, warning that such deals risk escalating insecurity rather than resolving it.
The NCYP delegation, led by its National Chairman, Isaac Abrak, made the call during a courtesy visit to Sheikh Khalid at his Karu residence in Nasarawa State.
Abrak expressed concern that despite peace talks in states like Katsina, Zamfara, and Kebbi, bandit attacks continue to rise. He stressed that while clerics and community leaders have a role in fostering peace, negotiations with armed groups must be driven by state security agencies such as the military and DSS.
On the recurring farmers–herders clashes in the North Central, Abrak urged Nigeria to emulate Rwanda’s model of forgiveness and reconciliation, which helped the East African nation recover after the 1994 genocide.
In his response, Sheikh Khalid reiterated his call for interreligious tolerance as the bedrock of peace and national development. He supported NCYP’s position on peace deal reviews, cautioning that the government must not appear weak or elevate bandits above affected communities.
The cleric commended the security forces, particularly the Chief of Defence Staff, for their dedication, while assuring NCYP of his continued support in promoting peace and justice across the country.
