𝗪𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹-𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀-𝗨𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗬𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗳

𝗪𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹-𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘀-𝗨𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗬𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗳.

By Niger Delta Voice Reporters,

Delta State Correspondent,

18th Dec, 2025.

Professor Usman Yusuf, a renowned haematologist and former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), has voiced strong opposition to the Defence Minister, General Christopher Musa’s proposal to wage war against Fulani bandits, warning that a full-scale military approach will fail.

Yusuf argued that as a political office holder, the Defence Minister should prioritize listening to citizens and exploring non-violent solutions rather than relying solely on military confrontation. He stressed that dialogue remains the most viable path to ending banditry in Nigeria.

Drawing from his personal experiences, Yusuf revealed that he has previously engaged bandit leaders directly in their forest hideouts. According to him, these encounters exposed the devastating humanitarian consequences of military operations and vigilante reprisals on local communities.

He maintained that meaningful dialogue is key to resolving the conflict, citing past negotiations he said yielded positive results. Yusuf cautioned that continued reliance on force would only deepen the crisis and prolong insecurity.

His comments come amid heightened tensions between the federal government and armed bandit groups, following recent assurances by the Defence Chief that banditry and terrorism would be decisively eliminated by 2025.

However, Yusuf warned that history has shown military campaigns alone are insufficient, advocating instead for peaceful engagement to address the root causes of the violence.

Yusuf’s stance has since ignited intense public debate across Nigeria. While some Nigerians support his call for dialogue, others have sharply criticized it, arguing that such an approach could embolden bandits and undermine government efforts to restore security.

Critics contend that Yusuf, given his national prominence, should place greater emphasis on the government’s responsibility to protect citizens, warning that reconciliation efforts may be interpreted as weakness.

Conversely, supporters of Yusuf’s position argue that years of military action have failed to end banditry, insisting that dialogue remains necessary to achieve lasting peace. They note that Yusuf’s firsthand experience negotiating with bandits gives him a unique and informed perspective.

Yusuf has also faced backlash over remarks concerning what he described as perceived silence among Igbo leaders on insecurity issues. While some viewed the comments as divisive, others interpreted them as a broader call for all Nigerians to speak out against violence and insecurity.

The ongoing debate underscores the complexity of Nigeria’s security challenges, as stakeholders remain divided between military enforcement and dialogue-driven solutions to the country’s worsening insecurity.