1,000 Kidnapped Victims Freed In Sabuwa LG Amid Renewed Bandit Threats
By Joe Goddy, Katsina
No fewer than 1,000 kidnapped victims have been released in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State, according to the council chairman, Faruk Ayatu.
Speaking to journalists in Funtua, Ayatu described Sabuwa as one of the worst-hit areas due to its proximity to bandit-infested forests bordering Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, and Kebbi states.
While acknowledging a decline in attacks due to the intensified efforts of the state government under Governor Dikko Umaru Radda, he expressed concern over the recent surge in violence, linking it to negotiations between bandits and authorities in neighbouring Kaduna State.
“The bandits are now threatening us to embrace negotiations on their terms, or we will continue to suffer severe attacks,” Ayatu said.
He reaffirmed the council’s stance against negotiating with criminals, arguing that such agreements often serve as mere deception.
“They will not surrender all their arms if deal is reached,” he maintained.
Ayatu also claimed that bandits harbour resentment toward Katsina residents because Governor Radda has refused to engage in negotiations with them, unlike Kaduna State authorities.
He revealed that “while 1,000 people had been released some through ransom payments and others freely around 70 individuals remained in captivity.
“Lasting and sustainable peace deal can only be attained only if all north-west states governors collectively agreed to negotiate with the bandits.”
The council chairman thanked Governor Radda for his commitment to fulfilling campaign promises, particularly in the areas of education, healthcare, agriculture, and water supply.
Despite these efforts, concerns persist over the region’s security situation, with residents calling for sustained military operations to curb bandit activities.
