‘It’s to maintain peace deal’: Katsina government defends move to release 70 suspected bandits

The Katsina State Government has defended its decision to initiate the release of 70 persons suspected of involvement in banditry, describing the move as part of a broader peace agreement with armed groups operating in the state.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Nasir Muazu, said the decision was taken to consolidate peace agreements reached between affected communities and repentant bandits across several local government areas of the state.

Muazu spoke in an interview following public reactions to a leaked government letter requesting judicial intervention to facilitate the release of the suspects.

According to him, the peace deal, which involves at least 15 local government areas, has led to the release of about 1,000 persons abducted during bandit attacks.

He likened the release of the suspects to prisoner exchanges that usually occur during wartime.

What you should know

Recall that a letter dated January 2, 2026, and marked “SECRET,” surfaced online last week, indicating that the state government had initiated steps to secure the release of suspected bandits facing criminal trials.

The letter, first reported by Vanguard, was issued by the Katsina State Ministry of Justice and addressed to the Chief Judge of the state.

In the document, the ministry requested the intervention of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) to facilitate the release of the detained suspects.

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

The proposed release, the ministry said, was intended to serve as “one of the conditions precedent for the continuance of the peace accord deal signed between the frontline local governments and the bandits.”

The letter further disclosed that while a few of the suspects had been arraigned before the Federal High Court, most were still in custody awaiting trial at various magistrates’ courts across the state.

In addition, a separate list of about 22 inmates facing trial before different high courts in Katsina was also submitted for possible release under the same peace arrangement.

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

The move sparked widespread outrage, with many Nigerians expressing concern that the release of suspects accused of serious crimes could undermine the rule of law and deny victims justice.

Responding to the backlash, Muazu said the peace deal had already yielded tangible results, noting that abducted persons had been released in several local government areas, including Sabuwa, Safana, Kurfi, Faskari, Danmusa, Bakori, and Dutsinma.

“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.

Muazu added that the actions of the Ministry of Justice and the courts did not violate any existing laws, stressing that anyone dissatisfied with the process was free to seek redress through the courts.