…released bandits could migrate to other regions, increasing insecurity across the country.
KATSINA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Bandits’ Planned Release in Katsina Faces Strong Opposition from Leading Socio-Political Groups, Including Afenifere, ACF, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and MBF.
In separate interviews, these organisations described the move as reckless, a threat to national security, and called on the Federal Government to intervene to halt the controversial plan. Religious and community leaders in Katsina State also criticised the proposed amnesty, warning that the release of the bandits could jeopardise the safety of residents.
Katsina has been grappling with a surge in bandit attacks, with more than 1,500 civilians killed between 2021 and 2025. The state government recently approved the release of 70 suspected bandits under a peace deal aimed at consolidating negotiations with armed groups. Critics, however, argue that the move undermines justice and emboldens criminal elements.
Efforts to confirm the release were inconclusive as officials at the Katsina State Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General’s office declined to comment. The government maintains that the release is part of broader efforts to secure freedom for abducted persons, citing that over 1,000 individuals have already been freed through similar negotiations. Katsina’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs likened the move to prisoner exchanges during wartime.
Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere described the proposal as an unacceptable appeasement of violent criminals. Its Organising Secretary, Abagun Omololu, warned that state governments lack the constitutional authority to negotiate with terrorists without disarmament, accountability, and judicial closure. He argued that releasing bandits without oversight could encourage criminality and spread insecurity to neighbouring states.
Similarly, the Arewa Consultative Forum cautioned that the decision could weaken state authority and embolden criminal groups. Its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, stressed that justice for victims must remain central and warned that such gestures could be misinterpreted as weakness.
Local religious and community leaders also condemned the plan. Malam Umar Usman, a religious leader in Katsina metropolis, called on the government to reconsider, insisting that those responsible for killings and community destruction should face full legal consequences. Aminu Jafaru, a ward head in Modoji, warned of potential reprisals against security operatives and community informants if the bandits were released.
The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) similarly denounced the proposed amnesty as a dangerous capitulation disguised as peace-building. Its National Coordinator, Jamilu Charanchi, argued that treating bandits as negotiating partners without first neutralising their capacity for violence undermines the authority of the state and rewards criminality.
Defending the policy, Katsina’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu Danmusa, said the release of 70 suspects was intended to consolidate community-driven peace deals, noting that repentant bandits had previously released around 1,000 abducted persons. He likened the release to prisoner exchanges during wartime, citing historical precedents such as the Nigerian Civil War and negotiations with Boko Haram.
Despite the government’s position, critics remain vocal. The Middle Belt Forum called for federal intervention, highlighting that negotiating with active bandits encourages impunity. Ohanaeze Ndigbo leaders warned that released bandits could migrate to other regions, increasing insecurity across the country. The Ijaw People’s Development Initiative also condemned the plan, describing it as dangerous and unacceptable.
Security experts emphasised that any negotiation must be conducted from a position of strength. Retired Nigerian Navy officer Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (retd.) stressed that negotiations should follow decisive security operations, arrests, and prosecutions to weaken bandit groups before engaging in talks.
The controversy underscores the tension between peace-building efforts and the demands of justice, as Nigerians debate whether such amnesty programs genuinely enhance security or risk deepening public insecurity and emboldening criminals.
