Nigeria, Sept. 15 -- The government said the agreement was aimed at restoring peace and promoting development in communities long affected by insecurity.

Several bandit leaders reportedly signed the accord, promising to lay down their arms and embrace peace. But the decision has drawn heavy criticism from security experts and members of the public, who doubt the sincerity and durability of such deals.

In an interview with The News Chronicle on Monday, Borno-based security analyst M. Wakili dismissed the peace pact as "nonsense," calling it a ploy to deceive both the government and the people.

Wakil argued that bandits and terrorists cannot be trusted to genuinely repent because of the financial and material benefits they gain from thei...