Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has revealed why bandits were not arrested after voluntarily stepping forward to participate in peace negotiations aimed at curbing attacks across Nigeria.

Speaking during a recent briefing, the IGP explained that bandits who willingly engage in peace deals are treated differently from active criminals who continue to perpetrate violent acts.

“Criminals who want to embrace peace, we won’t shut the door to them. If they want to surrender, they are welcome, but that does not mean that we are going to relax our stance on them,” Egbetokun said.

He emphasized that while negotiations take place with willing participants, security operations against violent criminals continue without pause.

This dual strategy, he added, is part of a broader effort to reduce bloodshed and strengthen national security by combining enforcement with dialogue.

This comes amid rising insecurity in the country and the recent release of 38 abducted members of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Kwara State.

Egbetokun also addressed attacks on police officers while on lawful duty and appealed to the public to always report incidents to authorities instead of taking the law into their own hands.

As Nigeria continues to grapple with insecurity and banditry, authorities are seeking a balance between punitive action and reconciliation, aiming for long-term stability while protecting citizens from immediate threats.