By Kolawole Kayode
With the sustained aerial bombardments on their locations and hideouts by men of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), notorious bandit kingpins in North-Western States of Nigeria have begged for dialogue and amnesty from the government.
According to a source, the bandit leaders insisted that they had to keep some of their weapons for fear that other bandit leaders in parts of Zamfara and Sokoto States including border areas with Niger Republic might come and attack them afterwards.
They also requested that officials of recognised and registered Fulani groups, like Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) can be involved in brokering the peace process and the Amnesty Programme.
NEWSHEREANDTHERE recently reported that airstrikes by Nigerian Military eliminated scores of footsoldiers of the notorious bandit kingpin, Dankarami.
Another separate military air interdiction also targetted the enclave of Ado Aliero, also a terrorist kingpin in Zamfara, near Asola Mountain in Tsafe local government of the State, killing over a dozen armed bandits.
Bombardments by the Air Component of Operation Hadarin Daji have recently been heightened in the North-West, as part of effort to rid the region of terrorists and their activities.
Some of the recent airstrikes were conducted in various locations in Zurmi, Tsafe, Faskari and Jibia local government areas (LGAs) in Zamfara and Katsina States, respectively.