Fourteen (14) notorious bandit groups operating in Batsari and Jibia local government areas have voluntarily surrendered their weapons and embraced peace in Katsina State.
The Project Coordinator of Peace For All Organisation, Hamisu Sai’id, whose body was spearheading the reconciliation efforts across the state, disclosed this in an interview.
Sai’id said the feat followed months of community engagement, dialogue, and trust-building with the warring factions.
“In Batsari, we had eight bandit groups who surrendered. Among them is Abu-Radde, who commands over 500 fighters; Umar Black, with more than 300; and Turkur Dan-Nigeria, who controls over 200.
“In Jibia, six groups have surrendered, including Langai, Sahabi, and Ori,” Sai’id disclosed.
He noted that for the past three months, there have been no attack in any of the communities where peace deals were brokered, a rare development in regions previously plagued by deadly raids, kidnappings, and cattle rustling.
Sai’id further explained that while progress has been made in Batsari and Jibia, there are challenges in Safana local government area.
“The bandits there have not surrendered. They are even attacking those who laid down their arms, including stealing their cattle,” he said.
In order to tackle this, he said the military recently collaborated with the organisation to engage with communities in Safana, leading to some initial agreements with bandits willing to negotiate.
However, he decried what he called political interference which has slowed down the process.
“The chairman of Safana LGA later called the military and said his people won’t negotiate with bandits. And I think this has political undertones,” Sai’id stated.
Despite criticism and allegations of donor funding misuse, Sai’id reaffirmed his commitment to the peace initiative.
“Some people accuse us of collecting money, but we don’t care. What we want is peace. The law allows us to pursue reconciliation. I don’t need to carry a gun; I use my skills to help bring peace,” he said.
He, however, urged the state government to also join hands in the peace negotiations move being championed in the frontline area.
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