The Katsina State Government has staunchly defended its initiative to facilitate the release of approximately 70 suspected bandits currently facing criminal trials, describing the move as essential to sustaining community-driven peace accords amid persistent insecurity in the northwest region.
The controversy erupted following the leak of a classified "SECRET" letter dated January 2, 2026, from the state's Ministry of Justice to the Chief Judge. Signed by Director of Public Prosecutions Abdur-Rahman Umar, the document requested intervention by the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) under Section 371(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Katsina State, 2021.
It stated that a list of 48 suspects, forwarded by the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, along with another 22 inmates, was to be released as "one of the conditions precedent for the continuance of the peace accord deal signed between the frontline local governments and the bandits." Many suspects remain in detention awaiting trial at magistrate courts, while some have been arraigned at the Federal High Court.
Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs Nasir Muazu addressed the backlash in interviews with DCL Hausa and other outlets, emphasising that the peace agreements—covering at least 15 local government areas including Sabuwa, Safana, Kurfi, Faskari, Danmusa, Bakori, and Dutsinma—have already delivered concrete results. He claimed the deals have secured the release of around 1,000 abducted persons held captive during bandit attacks.
Muazu likened the proposed releases to prisoner exchanges common in conflict zones worldwide. "The issue is that prisoner exchange is not a new thing in the history of war and peace," he said, citing examples from Nigeria's civil war and negotiations involving Boko Haram. "Both kidnappers and Boko Haram members are doing the wrong thing. According to Nigerian law, it’s a crime. And here in Katsina, it’s both people and the bandits that negotiated and agreed... we followed due process, at least 15 steps, before finalising."
He added that the accords allow former bandits greater freedoms, such as accessing markets and hospitals, in exchange for halting violence, insisting the process was community-led and violated no laws. Dissatisfied parties, he noted, can seek legal redress.
The plan has ignited widespread outrage across Nigeria. Legal experts, civil society groups, and citizens argue it undermines the rule of law, denies justice to victims of kidnappings, killings, and other atrocities, and risks emboldening criminal networks by signalling that violence can be negotiated away rather than prosecuted.
The development occurs under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda's administration, which has pursued dialogue alongside security operations to combat banditry plaguing the state. Critics point to ongoing attacks in some areas as evidence that such deals may prove fragile.
The release remains subject to judicial processes, with no final decision confirmed as of January 12, 2026. The situation highlights the complex balance between reconciliation and accountability in Nigeria's northwest insecurity crisis.
