As drones of bandits surrender to the military, ostensibly a symbol of victory in the fight against terrorism, there is a need to confirm if the leopard can change colour. Moreover, as a duty of care, reasons for their initial allegiance, subsequent repentance, and willingness to make restitution need authentication. If what drove them into banditry remains an unresolved mystery, this orchestrated repentance may remain a fallacy.

When Fela sang of "Animals in Human Skin", little did one envisage that the term years later would continue to aptly describe the actions of man that tread the face of the nation.

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Why then should "animals in human skin" hitherto wreaking havoc on the hapless human community suddenly desire to shed their animal skin and return to the volatile community without an expectation? The lessons learned in April 2021 from Auwal Daudawa, the bandit leader in Zamfara State, shot to prominence after masterminding the abduction of over 300 students in neighbouring Katsina State and returned to the trenches, less than three months after his celebrated repentance, remains livid.

What becomes of the community when these expectations are unfulfilled? What apology will suffice to the masses if, after reintegration into the community, like Auwal Daudawa, these bandits lay siege and strike when the nation slumbers?

The weakness of Nigeria's security forces is evident to these bandits as most security responses have at best been a reactive methodology where policies and measures abide after incidents occur; as seen in the recent stop-and-search enacted at Lekki axis, robbers began to camouflage as beggars. How can one ascertain that these desires for reintegration are not further to exploit the soft spot of these security operatives and beat them to their game?

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Advocating a total prosecution may be against the tenets of peace; however, there is a price paid for every crime. According to the Holy Book of Christians, Apostle Paul, whose past actions is similar to that of a bandit, paid heavily for his crimes after his total surrender and repentance. Hence, similar restitution for these repentant bandits need not seem out of place.

Eons Intelligence advocates that all repentant bandits become ambassadors of peace by orchestrating a total surrender of all their members or being conscript into the military to be at the forefront of the fight against insurgency.

Furthermore, these repentant bandits should be instrumental in the unconditional release of all abducted victims while also signing a peace treaty stating that for subsequent abductions that take place, their lives in the same number of abducted victims as an exchange of those abducted. However, until such or similar agreement is effective, we continue to enjoy the unfolding drama of the leopard's demonstration of a change to their colour.

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