Nigeria, July 5 -- Governor Bello Matawalle has said negotiation with bandits is the best option for lasting peace in the state just as he said he has no regrets in his administration choosing that option.

Mr Matawalle made this assertion in the wake of opinions being expressed as to the efficacy of the method in solving the lingering insecurity in the North-West.

"We applied the peace accord as a means of honest solution to the problem in Zamfara State which has yielded tremendous result never expected in the last one year," Mr Matawalle observed.

He said that amidst heavy presence of the military and relentless offensives against the bandits under his administration, the wanton killings and maiming by bandits was still increasing in ...