Katsina Bandits Claim Neglect Turned Them Into Terrorists, Seek Fresh Peace Deal with Government

By Diafa Doubra,

A group of armed bandits in Katsina State has alleged that years of government neglect and broken promises pushed them into terrorism, even as they now engage in a new round of peace talks with authorities.

During a recent meeting in Katsina involving traditional rulers, local council chairmen, and representatives of the security forces, several bandit leaders reportedly claimed they were once peaceful herders who took up arms after repeated government failures to protect them from cattle rustling, poverty, and injustice.

One of the leaders, speaking anonymously, said, “We were not born terrorists. The system made us this way. Government neglected us, and we had to defend ourselves.”

The peace meeting, chaired by Katsina’s local officials, seeks to broker a truce between the state government and the armed groups that have ravaged parts of the North-West with kidnappings and killings. However, many residents and security experts remain skeptical, citing previous failed peace deals that allowed the bandits to regroup and become more dangerous.

Observers warn that without sincere dialogue, justice, and economic reforms in the region, the cycle of violence may continue despite yet another “peace accord.”