There has been widespread condemnation across Nigeria following plans by the Katsina State Government to release 70 suspected bandits as part of an amnesty arrangement aimed at reviving a fragile peace deal with armed groups.
Prominent socio-political organisations, including Afenifere, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), and the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), described the move as reckless, dangerous, and a serious threat to national security. The groups urged the Federal Government to immediately intervene and halt the planned release.
Religious and community leaders in Katsina State also expressed strong opposition, warning that freeing suspected bandits could worsen insecurity and endanger residents.
Katsina has witnessed persistent bandit attacks over the years, with more than 1,500 civilians reportedly killed between 2021 and 2025. The state government recently approved the release of 70 detainees allegedly linked to banditry as part of a peace agreement with armed groups. Critics argue that the decision undermines justice, rewards criminality, and emboldens violent actors.
Efforts by journalists to confirm whether the bandits had already been released were unsuccessful, as officials at the Ministry of Justice declined to comment, neither confirming nor denying the reports. The silence has heightened public anxiety in a state long plagued by kidnappings, killings, and displacement.
The Katsina State Government, however, insists the move is part of a broader peace strategy that has reportedly led to the release of over 1,000 abducted persons through negotiations with armed groups. The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasir Mu’azu Danmusa, likened the plan to prisoner exchanges during wartime, arguing that such measures are necessary to consolidate peace.
Security experts and civil society groups rejected this comparison, stressing that bandits are criminals, not recognised combatants, and should not be treated as negotiating partners without accountability.
Afenifere warned that state governments lack the constitutional authority to negotiate with terrorists and described the plan as an unacceptable appeasement of violent criminals. The group cautioned that bandits released in Katsina could resurface in neighbouring states, spreading insecurity.
Similarly, the ACF said releasing suspected perpetrators without justice for victims could embolden criminals and weaken the authority of the state, while the Middle Belt Forum described the plan as “encouraging banditry” and called on the Federal Government to step in.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo also warned of nationwide consequences, noting that insecurity in one region inevitably affects others. Community leaders in Katsina echoed these fears, warning that released bandits could seek revenge against informants, traditional leaders, and security operatives.
While a few clerics acknowledged that dialogue could help reduce violence if properly managed, they stressed that public anger and mistrust remain high due to the scale of suffering inflicted by bandit groups.
Security analysts argued that negotiations should only take place after the state has demonstrated clear dominance through sustained security operations and prosecutions. They warned that peace built on concessions without justice, disarmament, and accountability is unlikely to last.
As pressure mounts, many groups insist that any peace process must prioritise victims, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that those responsible for killings, kidnappings, and destruction are held accountable before reintegration is considered.
