by Zainab Imam
The has defended its plan to facilitate the release of 70 persons currently facing trial for alleged involvement in banditry, insisting that the move is part of broader efforts to consolidate ongoing peace agreements with armed groups operating across the state.
The government said the decision is aimed at sustaining fragile peace deals reached between affected communities and bandit groups in several local government areas. According to officials, the agreements were negotiated to reduce violence, restore normalcy, and encourage the release of abducted persons.
Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, , explained that the proposed release is not an endorsement of criminality but a confidence-building measure designed to strengthen dialogue and reconciliation. He noted that similar approaches have been adopted in conflict resolution efforts both within and outside Nigeria.
Muazu disclosed that the peace arrangements had already yielded results, including the release of about 1,000 kidnapped victims and a noticeable reduction in attacks in some areas. He argued that sustaining the agreements requires mutual commitments from all parties involved.
The controversy followed the emergence of a letter from the state’s Ministry of Justice requesting judicial intervention to facilitate the release of the suspects as part of the peace process. The letter, reportedly addressed to the state’s criminal justice monitoring committee, listed 48 suspects from the Ministry of Internal Security and an additional 22 from various courts.
However, the plan has attracted criticism from members of the public, civil society groups, and security analysts, who argue that releasing suspects facing serious criminal charges could undermine justice and embolden armed groups. Critics also questioned the impact of such measures on victims of banditry and their families.
Responding to the backlash, the state government maintained that the move was carefully considered and rooted in the need to restore lasting peace to communities ravaged by years of violence. Officials stressed that the peace process would continue to be monitored to prevent a return to criminal activities.
Katsina State, like much of Nigeria’s northwest, has been severely affected by banditry, marked by killings, kidnappings, and displacement. The government insists that while security operations continue, dialogue remains a critical component of its strategy to end the crisis.