Nigerian Government Made Us Terrorists” – Bandits Confess in Peace Deal Meeting
A group of armed bandits in Katsina State admitted that government actions pushed them into violent crimes during a peace meeting held on Saturday.
The event brought together community leaders, security officials, and representatives of the bandits from Charanchi and Batagarawa local government areas. It concluded with both sides signing a peace agreement aimed at restoring calm to the troubled region.
During the gathering, one bandit claimed political interests were behind their involvement in violence:
“It was the government that wanted us to engage in banditry, but now it has called us and told us to stop. Therefore, by God’s grace, we have stopped from today.”
He added that those in power have the means to end insecurity but have failed to do so:
“If the government wants all this insecurity to end, they have the power to end it — but they don’t want it to end.”
The group had attempted peace talks in recent months but were ignored until now. The bandit spokesman also directed a message to citizens:
“You oppressed citizens — if you want to cry, don’t cry with us, the ‘terrorists,’ but cry with your government, for they are the ones who made us do what we have been doing.”
This meeting is part of broader local peace efforts across northern Nigeria to address years of violence, which have caused thousands of deaths and kidnappings.
Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi defended bandits, asserting that many act out of revenge rather than malice. He emphasized that Fulani herdsmen and bandit groups have been victims of injustice and urged the government to focus on dialogue, rehabilitation, and unity rather than solely on military action.
The Katsina peace agreement will test whether local negotiations can bring lasting peace to the North West region.
