Former Secretary to the Katsina State Government and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Mustapha Inuwa, has alleged that a Local Government Council in Katsina State earmarked ₦300 million in its 2026 budget for payments to bandits operating within its jurisdiction.
Inuwa restated alleged plans to facilitate the release of about 70 convicted and suspected bandits as part of ongoing peace arrangements, despite repeated assurances by the state government that it does not negotiate with criminal groups.
Meanwhile, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) and the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) have strongly criticised the alleged plan to release the suspected and convicted bandits under ongoing peace agreements.
The condemnation followed the emergence of a leaked classified letter dated January 2, 2026, purportedly from the Katsina State Ministry of Justice and marked “SECRET.” The letter, addressed to the state’s Chief Judge and published by an online newspaper, reportedly requested the intervention of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) to facilitate the release of the suspects. According to the document, the move was presented as a condition for sustaining peace deals between frontline local government areas and armed groups. The list reportedly includes 48 suspects awaiting trial at Magistrate Courts and 22 whose cases are before High Courts.
Reacting, CAN’s Northern Secretary-General and Chairman of the Northern Christian Elders Forum (NOSCEF), Elder Sunday Oibe, described the alleged proposal as “the height of unseriousness,” warning that it could embolden criminals and undermine public safety. He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reject the plan, arguing that releasing individuals accused of violent crimes contradicts the government’s constitutional responsibility to protect lives and property.
CAN questioned how justice would be served for victims of bandit attacks, including those killed, displaced or traumatised. “Granting freedom or pardon to people who have taken up arms against their fatherland is unfortunate,” the association said, adding that such a step could weaken deterrence and accountability.
The Middle Belt Forum also faulted the reported plan. Its spokesman, Luka Binniyat, described it as “dangerous” and an “open validation of terrorism cynically rebranded as banditry.” He said the move amounted to a mockery of the suffering of victims, including widows, orphans and displaced communities, insisting that justice should not be sacrificed in the name of peace. “Nigeria cannot negotiate away justice or reward terror with freedom,” he stated.
Similarly, the Coalition of Northern Groups rejected comparisons of the alleged release to wartime prisoner exchanges. The group’s National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, said such analogies were “deeply flawed, misleading, and dangerous,” stressing that bandits are criminal actors responsible for killings, sexual violence, displacement and economic destruction, not conventional combatants.
Charanchi argued that negotiations should be conducted from a position of state strength rather than appeasement. He criticised what he described as continued attacks, the undermining of judicial processes and official silence on the plight of victims. “Peace that ignores justice does not heal; it deepens fear, resentment, and insecurity,” he said, calling for a security-first approach supported by transparent processes, including disarmament, deradicalisation, victim compensation and effective monitoring.
However, Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Muazu, defended the initiative, saying it was aimed at consolidating community-driven peace agreements with “repentant” armed groups across at least 15 local government areas of the state. He said previous peace accords had led to the release of more than 1,000 abducted persons, describing the proposed measure as part of efforts to sustain stability in conflict-affected communities.
In an interview, Inuwa, the former SSG questioned the sincerity and transparency of the government’s security strategy, particularly in light of what he described as behind-the-scenes concessions to armed groups terrorising communities across the state.
According to Inuwa, the alleged ₦300 million allocation is not an isolated case, claiming that several Local Government Councils battling insecurity make monthly financial payments running into millions of naira to bandit groups in their areas.
“There is a Local Government in Katsina State that has earmarked the sum of ₦300 million for bandits in its 2026 budget,” Inuwa said.
“Beyond this, there are plans underway to free about 70 bandits, some of whom have been convicted or are facing trial. Government also gives money to bandits monthly, despite the so-called peace deal.”
Inuwa, who served under the administration of former Governor Aminu Bello Masari, described the development as deeply troubling, especially against the backdrop of community-driven peace initiatives reportedly covering 18 Local Government Areas in the state.
He argued that such actions undermine justice and security efforts, warning that public funds meant for infrastructure, education, healthcare, and social services are allegedly being diverted to appease criminal elements.
The ADC chieftain also expressed skepticism about the sustainability of the peace arrangements, noting that bandit attacks, kidnappings, and cattle rustling reportedly continue in several parts of Katsina State, despite claims of improved security.
