The Katsina State Government has defended its controversial decision to secure the release of 70 suspected bandits currently standing trial for various banditry related offences, describing the move as a strategic step aimed at sustaining fragile peace accords and reducing violence across troubled parts of the state.
The plan, which has sparked widespread public outrage and debate, came to light following the leak of an official letter from the Katsina State Ministry of Justice seeking judicial intervention to facilitate the release of the suspects. The government has since maintained that the decision is rooted in ongoing peace negotiations with so called repentant bandits and has already produced tangible security gains.
Speaking in Hausa on Saturday, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Muazu, explained that the release of the suspects was part of the conditions agreed upon by affected communities and armed groups in order to consolidate peace. According to him, the agreements have led to the release of about 1,000 abducted persons across several local government areas in the state.
Muazu disclosed that no fewer than 15 local government areas were involved in the peace arrangements, which he said had significantly reduced kidnappings and attacks in some previously volatile communities. He likened the release of the suspects to prisoner exchanges during wartime, insisting that such measures were not unusual in conflict resolution processes.
“All over the world, after wars, prisoner exchanges usually take place. During Nigeria’s civil war, prisoners were exchanged, just as it happened in negotiations involving Boko Haram,” Muazu said. “The issue is not whether an offence was committed or not, but ensuring peace. Prisoner exchange is not new in the history of war and peace.”
The leaked letter, first reported by Sahara Reporters, was written by the Katsina State Ministry of Justice and addressed to the Chief Judge of the state. It requested the intervention of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee to facilitate the release of the suspects. The letter was signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Abdur-Rahman Umar.
According to the document, a list of 48 suspects accused of various banditry related offences had been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice by the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs. The proposed release, the ministry explained, was to serve as one of the conditions precedent for the continuation of the peace accord signed between frontline local governments and bandit groups.
The letter further revealed that while some of the suspects had already been arraigned before the Federal High Court, many others were still being held at magistrates’ courts across the state awaiting trial. In addition, another list containing about 22 inmates facing trial before different high courts in Katsina State was also submitted for possible release under the same peace arrangement.
The Ministry of Justice urged the Chief Judge to take the necessary action, citing Section 371 subsection 2 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Katsina State 2021, which outlines the powers and responsibilities of the Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee.
Defending the legality of the move, Muazu insisted that neither the Ministry of Justice nor the courts had violated any law. He said those dissatisfied with the decision were free to challenge it through legal means. He also provided a breakdown of abductees released under the peace accords, citing figures such as 310 from Sabuwa Local Government Area, 125 from Bakori, 60 from Danmusa, 62 from Dutsinma and 36 from Safana.
A list obtained by Katsina Times, an online newspaper, showed that there is at least one woman among the 70 suspects slated for release. Some of the names listed include Hadiza Dije Hauwa’u from Safana, Gambo Zubairu Faskari, Muntari Yusuf Safana, Yakubu Alhaji Ardo, Tukur Amadu also known as Liman, Idi Salisu Gaddi, Abdulhayatu Jabiru, Ya’u Buhari and Amadu Rufa’i Anare.
However, the decision has attracted strong criticism from civil society groups and residents, who argue that releasing suspects accused or convicted of serious crimes undermines justice and endangers victims and witnesses.
Speaking on the telephone, the head of Network for Justice, Abdullahi Hassan Kofar Sauri, described the planned release as disturbing and called on the government to prioritise the rights and welfare of victims of bandit attacks. He questioned why the government was considering releasing individuals who had already been tried and convicted, warning that such actions could deepen fear and mistrust in affected communities.
According to him, many of the suspects had been convicted through due process, involving prosecution witnesses and testimonies from victims. He argued that their sudden release under the guise of a peace deal could expose victims and witnesses to renewed threats and reprisals.
“What happens to the families of those murdered or displaced by these bandits?” he asked. “How do you compensate them? Somebody was convicted for murder or arson, and suddenly he is released. Do you think the victims or witnesses can move freely again?”
Kofar Sauri insisted that any peace process must include adequate compensation for victims and not be a one sided arrangement that prioritises the interests of perpetrators over justice and accountability. He warned that releasing convicted bandits without addressing victims’ grievances could ultimately undermine long term peace.
The controversy comes amid renewed bandit attacks in parts of Katsina State. Just last Monday, armed bandits raided several communities in Malumfashi Local Government Area, killing eight persons and abducting many others. The affected villages included Unguwar Alhaji Barau, Gidan Dan Mai-gizo and Gidan Hazo.
As of November last year, 18 of the state’s 34 local government areas had entered into peace deals with bandit groups. While some areas have recorded relative calm since the agreements, others have continued to experience violent attacks, raising serious questions about the effectiveness and sustainability of the negotiations.
The local government areas involved in the peace accords include Kankara, Kafur, Malumfashi, Funtua, Batagarawa, Charanchi, Sabuwa, Dandume, Faskari, Matazu, Musawa, Safana, Kurfi, Dutsinma, Jibia, Batsari, Danmusa and Bakori.
Under the agreements, community leaders and traditional rulers pledged to uphold the terms of the deals, while bandits committed to halting attacks and releasing abducted persons. The Katsina State Government insists that despite the challenges, dialogue remains a critical component of its broader security strategy, even as critics continue to question the moral and legal implications of releasing suspects accused of terrorising communities.
