The Katsina State Government has publicly defended its controversial decision to facilitate the release of 70 suspected bandits who are currently undergoing criminal trials. The government states this move is a strategic step to broaden and solidify an existing peace agreement with repentant bandits in communities plagued by insecurity.
Rationale Behind the Controversial Release
According to the state authorities, the planned release is a critical condition for the continuation of a peace accord signed between frontline local governments and the bandits. The government maintains that such tactics are commonly adopted in conflict resolution scenarios globally. It further disclosed that this peace deal has already yielded a significant result: the release of at least 1,000 individuals who were held captive by the suspected bandits during various attacks.
Details from the Secret Government Letter
The plan came to light through an official letter dated January 2, 2026, which was classified as "SECRET." The letter was issued by the State Ministry of Justice and addressed to the state's Chief Judge, Justice Musa Abubakar. In the document, the government sought 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, revealed that the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs had forwarded a list containing the names of 48 individuals accused of various banditry-related offences. A separate list of about 22 inmates facing trial in different high courts was also submitted for release under the same peace arrangement.
The government clarified that while some suspects are on trial at the Federal High Court, others are in detention awaiting trial at magistrates' courts across the state. The request is said to fall within the statutory powers of the Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee under Section 371(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Katsina State, 2021.
Official Justification and Legal Standing
The State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasiru Danmusa, has strongly asserted that the government did not violate any law in pursuing this peace strategy. He advised any person or group displeased with the decision to seek legal redress through the appropriate channels. This move primarily affects 15 local government areas within Katsina that have been severely impacted by banditry and insecurity.
The government's position frames the release not as an act of impunity but as a difficult yet necessary concession to achieve a larger goal of lasting peace and the safe return of abducted citizens. The debate continues on the long-term efficacy and moral implications of such negotiations with individuals accused of violent crimes.
