Negotiating Peace or Peace on Trial: Armed Banditry and the Cacophony of Blanket Amnesty

The increasing incidences of armed banditry in Nigeria have become worrisome as it denotes the inability of the country’s security architecture to combat the phenomenon. This development has led to a growing body of literature dedicated to studying causes, nature, and possible ways of curbing the menace of armed banditry in the country. Recently, the advocacy for blanket amnesty for bandits to halt the growing menace of armed banditry seemed to have gained a loud voice in national and international media. The main argument of this school of thought, led by Sheik Ahmed Abubakar Gumi, is that blanket amnesty would solve the underlying causes of banditry and make bandits become responsible and law-abiding citizens. However, many Nigerians have been vehement in their rejection of blanket amnesty for bandits as it portends grave implications for the security situation in the country. The study examined the arguments of these two positions and premised on the justice and peace theory of amnesty, it aligns with the stand that blanket amnesty for bandits will cause more harm than good for the Nigerian state. To stem the tide of the menace, the study called for rejigging the country’s security apparatus.