The Katsina State Government has slammed participating in any peace negotiations with terrorist bandits, following reports of an alleged peace deal stroked involving bandit kingpins at Batsari Local Government Area of the state. Speaking with Daily Trust correspondence, Dr Bala Salisu, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Culture, clarified that the Katsina state government remains firm in its position against negotiating with bandits.
However, he reiterated the government’s willingness to accept any bandits who wish to voluntarily surrender and renounce violence.
According to the commissioner, “We were not part of any peace deal, and the government’s position has always been that anyone who renounces violence and surrenders their weapons would be considered. But the government would not go asking to negotiate with any bandit”.
This is coming at the heel of where a peace meeting involving military leadership, DSS representatives, traditional authorities, and residents was said to have took place on Sunday in Kofa village of Batsari town.
According to a resident, who claimed to have attended the said negotiation, “The bandits demanded safe access to our communities and pledged to stop their attacks. They surrendered weapons and released captives, claiming this was the beginning of a comprehensive peace process.”
Notorious bandit leaders, including Lamu Saudo, Abdulhamid Dan Da, Umar Black, and Abu Radda, reportedly surrendered their weapons and freed kidnapped victims during the meeting.
Military sources also confirmed that the surrender followed sustained military operations that left the bandits with no choice but to seek peace.
Lt. Lawal, the Public Relations Officer of the 17 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, corroborated the development, attributing the success to the relentless pressure being sustained by security forces.Dailytrust