Bandit kingpin frees 40 kidnap victims, threatens to back out from peace deal

A notorious bandit kingpin, Isya Kwashen Garwa, has freed 40 kidnap victims in Katsina State, warning that his group may return to violence if the government fails to address alleged killings by security forces.

The hostages were released in Faskari Local Government Area during what local officials described as part of an ongoing peace dialogue with Garwa’s fighters.

The development comes just days after 30 captives were freed, raising the total number of people released in recent days to about 70.

In a video,  Garwa himself put the figure at 72, noting that two had been freed earlier in addition to Wednesday’s 30 and the latest 40.

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Garwa said the releases were tied to assurances made during a peace meeting in Faskari, stressing that his group had not been forced into compliance.

He said : “You have seen that these people were released because of the promises we made during the peace pact meeting in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State,” Garwa said while addressing officials at the handover.

“You can see them — there are 40 of them. Two people were released earlier and are not part of this group of 40. On Wednesday we released 30 people. Altogether, they number 72.

“They were released because of the peace deal meeting. We were neither threatened nor overpowered before we released them — we released them because of the promises we made. They are not all in one location. I was instructed to go into the bush to ensure all kidnapped victims were released, and I am still trying to gather everyone who was kidnapped.”

However, the bandits’ leader accused security operatives of attacking his community in Ruwan-Godiya on Friday, alleging that both his men and Hausa civilians were killed during the raid.

“While I was going around to secure their release I received a report from Ruwa-Godiya that security operatives went to meet our people and shot them. It was not only our people — Hausa people were affected too. They killed men, women and children, and they also took our property, including motorcycles,” he said.

Garwa warned that the killings could derail the fragile truce:”If you will act, take decisive action on this matter. If you do not, we will return to our previous fighting, and if things worsen you will tell the world that we violated the promises we made,” he declared.

He added: “This incident happened on Friday. Government officials know what I am saying — I am not lying; you know the security operatives did this. Let me tell you: no life is worth more than another. If we want to resolve this peacefully, let us do it in the fear of God.”

The releases mark the latest outcome of months of negotiations between armed groups and community leaders in parts of northwest Nigeria, where kidnappings and violence have continued to unsettle rural communities.

(SAHARA REPORTERS)