• The controversial prisoner swaps

From Agaju Madugba, Abuja

Katsina State government has taken a controversial step in its fight against banditry with the reported release of detained bandits in exchange for abducted citizens. At the last count, about 70 terror kingpins held in correctional facilities and security custody were reportedly freed to secure the release of kidnapped residents.

At the height of certain peace deals with a cross section of bandit groups in the state late last year, Governor Umaru Dikko Radda had distanced his administration from direct negotiations, describing the process instead as the “Katsina Model,” a community‑driven approach where affected communities initiate peace pacts with repentant bandits. According to him, the state’s role is limited to encouraging and supporting these efforts while maintaining law and order. Despite this clarification, the development has continued to spark widespread outrage across Nigeria.

Katsina remains one of the hardest‑hit states, with 19 of its 34 local government areas identified as frontline zones under constant threat. Reports suggest that some terrorist cells impose monthly “protection levies” on communities, deepening the climate of fear.

Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Muazu, defended the prisoner releases, arguing that they consolidated earlier peace deals and facilitated the freedom of nearly 1,000 abducted residents. He provided figures of released captives across LGAs, including: Sabuwa – 310, Bakori – 125, Dutsinma – 62, Danmusa – 60, Kurfi – 42, Safana – 36, Faskari – 36, Malumfashi – 36, Matazu – 33, Jibia – 31 and Musawa – 28

Muazu further justified the swaps by citing global precedents, from Nigeria’s civil war prisoner exchanges to Boko Haram negotiations and Israel’s deals with Hamas and Hezbollah. “World over, everyone knows that after a war is fought, there are usually prisoner exchanges,” he said.

Yet, recent attacks cast doubt on the effectiveness of these deals. On Sunday, January 11, bandits stormed a wedding party in Unguwa Nagunda, Kankara LGA, killing two people and abducting 17 others, including the bride. That same day, another attack was reported at Jaga village along the Kankara–Sheme road.

Despite mounting criticism, the Commissioner insists the government’s involvement is justified: “Katsina State government is a government of the people, and therefore, whatever the people do in pursuit of peace, the government will not stop them or undermine their efforts. As long as it does not violate the law, the government will support it for the development of our society.”

Meanwhile, the state has recorded fresh attacks on civilians even as the government prepares to initiate the release of many bandits held in custody as part of community-driven peace agreements.

Bandits were said to have attacked a wedding convoy at Unguwar Nagunda village in Kankara Local Government Area of the state and killed at least two guests on Sunday night.

The attack was said to have also led to 17 people, including the bride, being abducted and several others injured. Eight of the abductees later escaped and were reunited with their families on Monday.

One person was reportedly killed in another attack on Jaga village along the Kankara–Sheme Road, also in Kankara Local Government Area, yesterday.

Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Muazu, had, in an interview with DCL Hausa on Saturday, justified the government’s plan to facilitate the release of 70 persons facing trial for alleged involvement in banditry as part of efforts towards consolidating peace deals with armed groups operating across the state.

But in another interview with the BBC yesterday, the commissioner stated that the exact number of bandits to be released had not been determined.

He said the state government had set up reconciliation committees across local government areas to compile the names of detained bandits for review by the courts before any release is carried out.

Residents of Unguwar Nagunda village, who spoke to our correspondent yesterday, said the bandits targeted the wedding guests shortly after they arrived at Unguwar Nagunda.

A security source said security forces had been mobilised and “are currently combing various locations to rescue the remaining victims within Kankara and nearby isolated bushes across the state.”

The attack on Jaga, a resident said, “Although we have been enjoying what could be described as a fragile peace, the bandits appear to be resurfacing.

“The general belief here is that they are among those opposed to the peace deal recently signed in Kakumi village of Bakori Local Government Area, where five LGAs—Kankara, Malumfashi, Kafur, Funtua and the host Bakori—participated.

Residents of Kankara called on the relevant authorities to intensify engagement with the bandits while also appealing for the deployment of more security operatives to the area.

The Katsina State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mu’azu, confirmed the incidents to our correspondent and promised to provide the contact of the chairman of the Kankara Local Government Security Committee for further details, but he never did.

Residents of Kankara called on the relevant authorities to intensify engagement with the bandits while also appealing for the deployment of more security operatives to the area.