Why We Released 70 Suspected Bandits– Katsina Government

The Katsina State Government has defended its decision to initiate steps to release 70 persons suspected of involvement in banditry-related offences, saying the move is part of efforts to sustain the ongoing peace deal in the state.

Speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Muazu, said the decision was taken to consolidate a peace agreement reached between affected communities and repentant bandits across several local government areas.

Muazu said the peace deal, which involves at least 15 local government areas, has already led to the release of about 1,000 abducted persons by repentant bandits operating in different parts of the state.

He explained that the proposed release of the suspects was comparable to prisoner exchanges that typically occur during and after armed conflicts.

The development followed the issuance of an official letter last week indicating that the state government had initiated steps to secure the release of suspected bandits currently facing criminal trials.

Dated January 2, 2026, and marked “SECRET”, the letter was issued 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 (ACJMC) to facilitate the release of the detained suspects.

The letter, signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Abdur-Rahman Umar, disclosed that a list containing the names of 48 individuals accused of various banditry-related offences had been submitted to the Ministry of Justice by the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs.

According to the document, the proposed release was intended to “facilitate their release from detention, as one of the conditions precedent for the continuance of the peace accord deal signed between the frontline local governments and the bandits.”

The ministry also revealed that while some of the suspects have been arraigned before the Federal High Court, many remain in detention awaiting trial at various magistrates’ courts across the state.

A separate list of about 22 inmates standing trial before different High Courts was also submitted for release under the same peace arrangement.

The Ministry of Justice urged the Chief Judge to take “necessary action”, noting that the matter falls within the powers of the Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee under Section 371(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Katsina State, 2021.

The move, however, has generated widespread criticism, with some Nigerians expressing concern that releasing suspects accused of serious crimes could undermine the rule of law, deny justice to victims, and embolden criminal groups.

Responding to the concerns, Muazu said the repentant bandits had already freed abductees across multiple local government areas, including Safana, Kurfi, Sabuwa, Faskari, Danmusa, Malumfashi, Musawa, Matazu, Dutsinma, Jibia, and Bakori.

“For example, in Safana Local Government Area, they (repentant bandits) released 36 persons; in Kurfi, they released 42 persons; in Sabuwa, they released 310 persons; in Faskari, they released 36 persons; in Danmusa, they released 60 persons,” Muazu said.

“In Malumfashi, they released 36 persons; in Musawa, they released 28 persons; in Matazu, they released 33 persons. In Dutsinma, they released 62 persons; in Jibia, they released 31 persons; in Bakori, they released 125 persons.”

He maintained that prisoner exchanges are a recognised part of conflict resolution globally, citing past precedents in Nigeria, including negotiations involving Boko Haram.

“World over, everyone knows that after a war is fought, there are usually prisoner exchanges. If you take Nigeria, for example, during the civil war, many prisoners were set free and exchanged between the Nigerian side and the Biafran side,” the commissioner added.

“If you look at the issue of Boko Haram, prisoners were also released after an agreement was reached. Even the Chibok girls that were released also saw some Boko Haram members who were in prison set free too.

“Both warring groups have prisoners they set free for the other. So, it is not an issue of whether an offence had been committed or not, so long as there is peace. The issue is that prisoner exchange is not a new thing in the history of war and peace.”

Muazu added that the actions taken by the Ministry of Justice and the courts did not violate any existing laws, stating that individuals dissatisfied with the process are free to seek legal redress through the courts.