The Katsina State Government has defended its decision to approve the release of 70 detained suspected bandits, saying the move was part of a swap deal reached under a peace agreement with repentant bandits.
Gatekeepers News reports that the state Commissioner for Information, Salisu Bala, said the decision followed requests from traditional rulers and community leaders in security-challenged areas who had earlier negotiated a peace accord with bandit groups.
An official letter had shown that the state government granted approval for courts to release the suspects from custody. Earlier, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Muazu, had also confirmed that the release formed part of conditions agreed upon during peace talks between bandits and affected communities.
The development has, however, drawn criticism from some quarters, with concerns raised over the release of individuals accused of killing, maiming, raping and looting communities over several years.
Responding to the backlash, Bala said the government carefully considered the legal and judicial implications before agreeing to the request, stressing that the peace deal had produced tangible results across several local government areas.
“Someone may ask why the swap deal? It should be recalled that some few months back, bandit groups operating in some frontline and vulnerable local governments of Katsina State approached local community leaders and authorities demanding for a peace accord,” he said.
“After wider consultations, deliberations and discussions, the local community leaders accepted the bandits’ demands for a peace deal with various conditions and agreements.”
According to him, one of the conditions was a swap of captives, which he said had helped restore peace and normalcy in the affected communities.
“Among the conditions for the peace deal is swap of captives. This peace deal yielded positive results as normalcy and peace was restored in all communities that signed the peace accord,” Bala said.
He disclosed that the bandits honoured their part of the agreement by releasing more than 1,000 hostages from several local government areas, including Safana, Kurfi, Faskari, Sabuwa, Danmusa, Malumfashi, Musawa, Matazu, Jibia, Bakori and Dutsinma.
“The bandit groups kept to their promises and released over 1,000 hostages,” he added.
Bala said this development justified the decision to approve the release of detained suspects when community leaders formally approached the government.
“This justifies why, when local community leaders including traditional rulers approached the state government to facilitate the release of the suspected arrested bandits, government, having considered all legal and judicial processes, demanded for their release,” he said.
He maintained that the action was lawful and consistent with the rule of law, aimed at enabling communities to fulfil their own part of the peace agreement.
“It is my belief that the state government decision and action is lawful and in accordance with the rule of law, aimed at supporting the local communities to fulfil their own part of the agreement,” Bala said.
He added that the peace deal had led to improved security and economic recovery in many areas.
“There have been growth in the local economy as some markets, like those of Danmusa and Batsari, have reopened. Moreover, many communities have returned to their homes and harvested their farm produce,” he said.
The commissioner urged stakeholders to support the government’s efforts and warned against politicising security matters.
“People should not politicise security issues for selfish political ends. How will one feel if his brother or sister is estranged in captivity and someone opposes a swap deal to release him or her?” he asked.
“Rather than accusing government of supporting bandits, let us all support the efforts and measures being taken by the administration of Governor Malam Dikko Umaru Radda to secure the state out of banditry and kidnapping so that we live in peace.”
