Prominent socio-political groups, security experts, and community leaders across Nigeria have expressed strong opposition to plans by the Katsina State Government to release 70 suspected bandits as part of an ongoing peace deal, warning that the move could worsen insecurity and undermine justice.
Groups including Afenifere, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), and the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) described the proposed release as reckless, dangerous, and capable of emboldening criminal elements.
Katsina State has suffered 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 the suspects, arguing that the decision forms part of a community-driven peace initiative aimed at securing the freedom of abducted persons and restoring calm.
However, attempts to confirm whether the bandits had already been released were unsuccessful, as officials at the Ministry of Justice declined to comment. The silence further heightened public anxiety in a state grappling with years of killings, kidnappings, and destruction.
Speaking on the development, Afenifere’s Organizing Secretary, Abagun Omololu, said the move amounted to an unacceptable appeasement of violent criminals and posed a grave threat to national security.
He warned that state governments lacked constitutional authority to negotiate with terrorists or grant them freedom without full disarmament, accountability, and judicial processes.
According to him, releasing bandits without verifiable surrender and prosecution could allow them to resurface in other states, spreading insecurity further.
The ACF also cautioned against the plan. Its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, said banditry involved heinous crimes and stressed that justice for victims must remain central to any peace initiative.
He warned that such concessions could encourage criminal groups to believe the state lacked resolve, while also raising concerns about whether the Federal Government was adequately consulted.
Religious and community leaders in Katsina State also voiced strong opposition. A religious leader in Katsina metropolis, Malam Umar Usman, said those responsible for killings and destruction should face the full weight of the law.
Similarly, a ward head in the Modoji area, Aminu Jafaru, warned that freed bandits could seek revenge against traditional rulers and security informants.
A youth leader in Kankara disclosed that affected communities were considering legal action if the release proceeded, citing years of killings, rape, and ransom payments.
The Coalition of Northern Groups rejected comparisons between the release of bandits and wartime prisoner exchanges, insisting that Nigeria was not in a conventional war with a recognized enemy.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Jamilu Charanchi, the coalition said releasing suspects facing trial sent a dangerous signal that violence pays and justice is negotiable.
The group also lamented the lack of clarity on restitution, compensation, and justice for victims.
Defending the policy, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasir Mu’azu Danmusa, said the release was aimed at consolidating peace agreements across at least 15 local government areas.
He said repentant bandits had released over 1,000 abducted persons under the initiative, likening the move to prisoner exchanges seen during wars, including Nigeria’s civil war and negotiations involving Boko Haram.
According to him, the Ministry of Justice and the courts acted within the law, adding that aggrieved parties were free to seek redress through legal means.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Bala Zango, argued in a personal opinion piece that communities directly affected by banditry were more willing to support unconventional measures if they promised immediate safety.
A retired Nigerian Navy officer, Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (retd.), said any discussion on releasing bandits must consider the psychological, economic, and emotional toll of years of violence.
He stressed that negotiations should only take place from a position of strength, after sustained security operations weaken criminal groups.
The Middle Belt Forum called on the Federal Government to intervene, describing the plan as encouraging banditry.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo leaders also warned that the release could have ripple effects across the country, potentially allowing bandits to relocate and continue attacks elsewhere.
Other groups, including the Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, echoed similar concerns, insisting that public safety must take priority over concessions to violent criminals.
