A startling confession from a group of armed bandits in Katsina State has sent shockwaves across northern Nigeria.
During a peace meeting with community leaders, the insurgents claimed that government neglect and manipulation pushed them into violence.
The peace agreement, signed at the weekend in Charanchi and Batagarawa council areas, brought together local leaders, council chairmen, and a group of armed men responsible for years of terror attacks.
One of the bandits, speaking publicly during the meeting, alleged that political actors had encouraged their actions.
“It was the government that wanted us to engage in banditry. But now, they have called us and told us to stop. Therefore, by God’s grace, we have stopped from today,” he said.
He claimed the Nigerian government holds the power to end insecurity but chooses not to.
“For months, we tried to reach out for peace, but no one came. Now that they decided to meet us, they found us easily,” he continued.
“If leaders want peace, it will happen. If they want attacks, we will continue. Everything depends on them.”
The statement has sparked fresh debate on the root causes of insecurity across Nigeria’s North-West region, where thousands have been killed and displaced by bandit attacks over the years.
Customs Officer Killed in Kebbi Attack
While peace talks continued in Katsina, tragedy struck Kaoje in Bagudo Local Council of Kebbi State, where suspected Lakurawa terrorists ambushed a Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) checkpoint.
Eyewitnesses said the gunmen arrived on motorcycles on Saturday night and opened fire on officers before setting their camp ablaze.
One Customs officer was reportedly killed instantly, while others fled the scene. The attackers escaped toward the border forests after the assault.
A security analyst, Bakatsine, who monitors northwestern conflicts, confirmed the incident in a post on X, noting it was the second major attack in the area in recent weeks.
As of press time, neither the Kebbi State government nor the Customs Service had issued an official statement.
Governor Sule Calls for Calm in Nasarawa
Meanwhile, following a midnight invasion of Sarkin Noma community in Keana Local Council of Nasarawa State, Governor Abdullahi Sule urged residents to remain calm.
Through his Senior Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, Sule vowed that security agencies would hunt down the perpetrators.
“The government will not allow enemies of peace to succeed in their evil acts,” the statement read.
“Security agencies have been directed to ensure that those behind the attacks are brought to justice.”
He assured citizens that the state is collaborating closely with security agencies to strengthen new security measures.
Sokoto Council Boss Denies Inaction
In Sokoto State, Isa Local Council Chairman Shareef Abubakar Kamarawa dismissed claims of negligence over a recent bandit attack in Bargaja village, which left six people dead and several abducted.
He insisted that the council acted on early intelligence reports, mobilizing local security groups and notifying federal agencies for rapid intervention.
“It is false and misleading to say we did nothing,” Kamarawa said.
“We took immediate steps to prevent the attack once we received information about suspicious movements.”
The wave of violence and negotiations reflects Nigeria’s fragile security landscape, where bandits, terrorists, and political interests continue to overlap.
As one Katsina bandit openly admitted, peace or chaos may now depend more on government will than on the gunmen themselves.