Katsina is one of several states in northwestern and central Nigeria terrorised by criminal gangs that the locals refer to as bandits.
The gangs maintain camps in a huge forest straddling Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna states in the northwest region and Niger state in the country’s central zone and have carried out mass kidnappings of students from schools in recent years.
“There was a peace meeting between 12 bandit leaders and the local community leaders in Danmusa where the bandits renounced their criminal activities and committed to peace,“ Mu’azu said.
As a mark of goodwill, the bandits surrendered weapons and released 17 hostages, with the promise to free more people they were holding.
With no ideological leaning, the bandits are motivated by financial gains but their increasing alliance with jihadists from the northeast has been raising concern among authorities and security analysts.
“We have been fighting the bandits for the past two years and the state governor has reiterated he will not negotiate from a position of weakness,“ Mu’azu said.
In November last year, neighbouring Kaduna state, which has rejected negotiation with bandits, signed a peace accord with the criminal gangs terrorising Birnin-Gwari district.
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