Katsina state government has declared that, some terrorists bandit leaders had transmitted an offer for dialogue resulting in surrendering arms and release of some (17) abductees that have been in captivity.
This development resulted in the perfection of a peace accord with some of these bandit leaders to augment the way for genuine reconciliation.
Earlier than the present move for a realistic peace accord, a similar one was done between other sets of bandit groups and people of Jibiya and Batsari local government areas of the state, which resulted in people of the area enjoying relative peace.
The recent reconciliation meeting was held at Bicchi community of Dan Musa local government area of Katsina state.
According to the Commissioner for Security in Katsina state Dr. Nasir Muazu the bandit leaders who are participating in the ongoing peace accord include Ado Alieru, Kamilu Buzaro, Manora, Dogo Na Ali, Na’ibi, Wada Jargaba, Lawai Dan Maiti, Sani Yellow, Dahiru Buzu and Dogo Bedu, Na Gwaggo and Nalbi
On the site of the communities, the commissioner said religious leaders, traditional institutions, businessmen, as well as other critical stakeholders, including the local government Chairman.
The Commissioner said the government accepted to meet with the bandit leaders because they have made open declaration that they are tired of their criminal activities and that they needed peace to be able to mingle with the people without any hitch noting that they are all indigenes of Katsina state born and brought up together in the same community.
He added that the community on their end agreed to accept the peace offer in order for everyone to enjoy peace.
On why Katsina State accepted the peace accord after stating its earlier position of not going the path of peace accord, the Commissioner noted that since they have accepted to accept peace it was very wrong for the government to continue fighting them.
“Remember we have spent two years fighting them and the Governor really stated that he will not discuss with bandits at a point when he was under attack by these same criminals but now that they presented an offer for peace and dialogue, the government cannot continue fighting them”.
“Islamic ally it will wrong for the government to continue fighting the bandits since they accepted peace and going by Geneva Convention it is also wrong to extend the fight against the bandits after they came for dialogue”.
He noted further that when the government accepted the peace offer from a bandit leader, Audu Lankai peace has returned and that people are going to their farms and doing other things, in Batsari the government also accepted the peace offer of Abu Radde and the people are enjoying peace.
He insisted that if they violated the peace accord entered into with them by the government, they full fight will resume.
