Residents of Batsari, a local government area in Katsina State, have expressed dissatisfaction with a recent peace deal involving bandit leaders Abu Radde, Umar Black, and others.
The deal, facilitated by the military, has drawn scepticism from locals who believe it will fail, citing the ineffectiveness of similar agreements in the past.
In an interview with LEADERSHIP, a resident who requested anonymity criticised the federal government for initiating the deal without adequately involving the state government.
According to him, Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda has consistently distanced himself from negotiating with bandits, arguing that such talks disadvantaged law-abiding citizens.
“Several deals like this have been made before, but they have never worked. This one won’t hold, either. The federal government is wrong to proceed without the state government’s input,” the resident stated.
He also questioned the significance of the weapons surrendered by the bandits. “Four AK47 rifles from a group with hundreds of guns? It’s hardly a meaningful step,” he added.
The surrender ceremony, held on January 19, 2025, in Batsari, was attended by stakeholders, including military representatives, to ensure transparency.
The bandits handed over four AK47 rifles and released 15 captives, including three men, eight women, and four children.
According to military sources, the development resulted from intense operations under the combined forces of Operation Fasan Yanma. It was emphasised that this was not a peace negotiation but a step towards complete disarmament and the release of all kidnapped victims.
The surrendered weapons are now in the custody of the 17 Brigade Army, while the rescued captives have been transferred to the local government authorities for rehabilitation.
Katsina State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Bala Zango, reiterated the government’s stance against negotiating with bandits.
“The state government was not part of any peace deal. Our position remains clear: anyone who renounces violence and surrenders their weapons will be considered, but we will not negotiate with bandits,” he said.
