According to a report by Daily Post, a peace meeting in Katsina State has stirred outrage after several attendees reportedly confessed that they were not real bandits but hired locals paid to pose as them.
The dialogue, held in Batagarawa and Charanchi Local Government Areas, was meant to promote reconciliation between residents and armed groups terrorizing local communities. However, the event quickly turned controversial when some supposed “bandits” revealed they had been recruited, armed, and instructed to attend the meeting. The disclosure has now cast serious doubt on the credibility of the entire peace effort.
“We were hired to come here. Some of us are not bandits. They gave us guns and told us to attend,” some of the attendees were quoted as saying.
Reports from Katsina Times and an eyewitness account shared by security analyst @DanKatsina50 on X (formerly Twitter), said the armed men admitted they were engaged to make the gathering look successful.
The meeting was convened by local government officials and attended by the Executive Chairman of Batagarawa Local Government, traditional rulers, and community representatives.
Security experts and residents have since questioned the sincerity of the peace dialogues, warning that such staged events could undermine trust between the government and affected communities. Analyst Bakatsine wondered, “Where were the real bandit commanders apart from Sani Muhudinge? Why were only unfamiliar young men present?”
This is not the first time peace talks with bandits have attracted controversy in northern Nigeria. Similar negotiations in Zamfara, Kaduna, and Niger States collapsed after many “repentant” fighters returned to banditry, leaving communities vulnerable once again.
Critics argue that such approaches often reward criminals while ignoring justice for victims.
Governor Dikko Umar Radda’s administration has emphasized community engagement in tackling insecurity, but the latest development may force a review of strategy. Many now urge the state government to investigate the allegations and ensure only credible stakeholders participate in future dialogues.
