A notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Ummaru, has warned security agencies that relying solely on military operations to combat insecurity in Katsina State would worsen the crisis.
Ummaru issued the warning at the weekend during a peace meeting between bandit groups and community leaders in Matazu Local Government Area.
Ummaru’s remarks were captured in a video posted by counter-insurgency reporter Zagazola Makama.
“If today you kill 10 bandits, tomorrow you’ll see 20… you kill 20, another 30 will rise both in our bushes and villages,” he said.
The meeting was part of wider efforts to broker peace between rural communities and armed groups in the state. Ummaru accused the government of neglecting citizens and also criticised residents of Matazu for allegedly collaborating with security operatives.
“Truth be told, the government doesn’t care about anyone, all it’s after is how to generate money. If the government cared about the people, all these things won’t be happening,” he said.
The dialogue coincided with a separate initiative in Kabalawa Dungun-Muazu, a border community in Sabuwa LGA, where chairmen of Sabuwa and Dandume councils, Engr. Sagir Tanimu and Bashir Sabi’u Gyazama, brokered similar agreements.
With this, nine LGAs, Batsari, Kankara, Kurfi, Musawa, Danmusa, Jibia, Faskari, Sabuwa, and Dandume have now signed peace pacts with bandit groups.
Under the deal, the armed groups pledged to halt attacks and release abducted persons, while demanding the release of detained members and an end to vigilante reprisals.
Local authorities in turn promised to reopen the Dandume cattle market and assured the bandits of safety during community interactions.