Former Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has recounted a chilling encounter with a bandit during a TikTok session, offering a rare insight into the mindset of armed criminals operating in Nigeria.
In an interview with News Central, Dalung said he asked the bandit why he and his group killed people. The bandit reportedly explained that vigilantes had previously attacked their communities and taken their cattle, leaving them with little choice but to take up arms and retreat into the bush. "They were also killed and their cattle taken away by the vigilantes, so they took up arms and are in the bush," Dalung quoted the bandit as saying.
Dalung added that when he asked why the bandits also target Fulanis, the young criminal insisted that only those living in the bush are considered Fulanis, claiming that any Fulani residing in towns is not recognized by them. "Anyone they see in town, they will kill," the bandit reportedly said.
When asked how the cycle of violence could be stopped, the bandit indicated that they were open to negotiations to lay down their weapons, reflecting a willingness to engage under certain conditions. Dalung described the bandit’s confidence and composure during the conversation as "quite scary."
Reacting to the encounter, Dalung urged the National Assembly to amend the constitution to allow Nigerians to bear arms, arguing that citizens should be empowered to defend themselves against armed criminals.
This encounter highlights the complex dynamics of rural banditry in Nigeria, where cycles of revenge, ethnic tensions, and vigilante actions continue to fuel violence across many communities.
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