In what many residents have described as a shocking revelation, a group of armed men — widely known as bandits — have accused the Nigerian government of pushing them into terrorism.
The claim came during a fresh “peace deal” meeting between community leaders from Charanchi and Batagarawa Local Government Areas of Katsina State and representatives of the bandit groups on Saturday.
Speaking openly before local elders and security agents, one of the bandit leaders said their violent activities were not born out of choice but out of government manipulation and neglect.
“It was the government that wanted us to engage in banditry. But now, they have called us and told us to stop. So by God’s grace, we have stopped from today,” the bandit said, drawing murmurs from the crowd.
The armed men claimed they had been trying to initiate peace talks for months but were ignored by authorities until recently.
“If the government wants this insecurity to end, they can end it — but they don’t want to. For two months, we’ve been seeking dialogue, but they refused to meet us. Now that they finally came, we have agreed to stop,” the speaker continued.
The bandit insisted that the key to peace lies entirely in the hands of the nation’s leaders.
“We don’t have the power to stop or continue these attacks. It’s the government that controls everything. If they want us to stop, they can make it happen. You citizens should not cry because of us — cry to your government. They are the ones who made us do what we’ve been doing.”
This latest “peace deal” adds to the ongoing debate over how Nigeria should handle the rising wave of rural insecurity across the North. Many observers, however, are sceptical about the sincerity and sustainability of such agreements, given previous peace pacts that collapsed within months.
Meanwhile, Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has once again defended the bandits, describing them as aggrieved people on “revenge missions.” Speaking on Trust TV, Gumi said most of the armed groups were reacting to years of marginalisation and injustice.
“They don’t just attack people without reason,” Gumi maintained. “Many of them have lost parents and brothers in hostility. Their actions are wrong, but if you understand their psychology, you will know they are seeking revenge.”
The controversial cleric, who has long advocated for amnesty and negotiation, urged the Tinubu administration to focus on rehabilitation and dialogue rather than military offensives.
For residents of Katsina and other affected northern states, Saturday’s meeting offers a flicker of hope — but also raises deeper questions about accountability, justice, and the government’s role in Nigeria’s worsening insecurity crisis.
