Katsina State Government officials explain the release of suspected bandits as part of a peace agreement aimed at restoring security across affected local government areas.


The Katsina State Government has justified its decision to initiate the release of dozens of suspected bandits, saying the move is a strategic step to preserve an existing peace agreement that has already led to the freedom of more than 1,000 abducted residents.

According to the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Muazu, the decision is part of ongoing efforts to sustain peace accords reached with armed groups operating across several local government areas in the state.

Muazu made the clarification during an interview with DCL Hausa on Saturday, following reactions to a leaked government letter requesting judicial intervention to facilitate the suspects’ release.

The commissioner explained that the peace deal spans at least 15 local government areas and has already yielded concrete results.

He said the agreement has led to the release of about 1,000 people abducted during bandit attacks in different parts of the state.

Muazu compared the initiative to post-conflict prisoner exchanges carried out globally.

“All over the world, after wars, prisoner exchanges usually take place. During Nigeria’s civil war, prisoners were exchanged, just as it happened in negotiations involving Boko Haram,” he said.

A letter dated January 2, 2026, and marked “SECRET,” surfaced online last week, revealing that the state government had begun formal steps to release suspected bandits currently facing criminal trials.

First reported by Vanguard, the document was issued by the Katsina State Ministry of Justice and addressed to the Chief Judge of the state.

The letter, signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Abdur-Rahman Umar, disclosed that a list of 48 suspects accused of various banditry-related offences had been forwarded by the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs.

In addition to the initial list, the document revealed that another 22 inmates facing trial in various high courts across Katsina State were also submitted for possible release under the same peace arrangement.

While some of the suspects had already been arraigned before the Federal High Court, others were still being held in different magistrate courts awaiting trial.

The proposed releases were described as a key condition for sustaining the peace accord between frontline local government areas and the armed groups.

The Ministry of Justice urged the Chief Judge to take “necessary action,” referencing the powers of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee under Section 371(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Katsina State, 2021.

Muazu maintained that the actions of the Ministry of Justice and the courts were within the confines of the law.

Responding to criticism, the commissioner stressed that the peace initiative has already restored relative calm in several affected areas.

He listed Sabuwa, Safana, Kurfi, Faskari, Danmusa, Bakori, and Dutsinma as local government areas where abducted residents have regained their freedom following the agreement.

Muazu added that anyone dissatisfied with the process has the constitutional right to seek legal redress.

“Anyone dissatisfied with the process is free to seek redress through the courts,” he said.