Bandit leader releases 37 hostages in Katsina, blames government for insecurity

A notorious bandit commander, Isiya Kwashen Garwa, has released 37 abducted persons in Katsina State, using the handover ceremony to issue a scathing critique of government leadership and what he called long-standing oppression and injustice in the Northwest.

The victims — including several children — were handed over to the lawmaker representing Bakori Constituency. Garwa, who spoke during the release, claimed that insecurity in the region is the product of systemic neglect, failed governance, and unresolved grievances that have been ignored for years.

In a video , Garwa, clad in a tactical vest loaded with rifle magazines and flanked by armed fighters, said the worsening violence was a direct result of mismanagement by authorities from the federal tier down to local governments. He called on Nigerians to prioritise reconciliation and peace.

Speaking in Hausa, he repeatedly referenced divine will as he argued that the crisis had its roots in “oppression, injustice, and mismanagement,” insisting the situation was far more complex than mere criminal intent.

“Today again, by Allah’s help and His mercy, about thirty-seven people have been found. All of them were on their way fulfilling their responsibilities,” he said.

Garwa dismissed the belief that banditry was driven by deception or ambition, saying the turmoil stemmed from long-standing grievances, failed leadership, and deep mistrust among communities. He warned that military force would not resolve the conflict and used a metaphor involving Suya beans and insecticide to illustrate the dangers of harming one group in a tightly interwoven society.

He said, “Contrary to what some people think, this situation is not the way they imagine it, nor is it based on lies or deceit…” and went on to urge patience, understanding, and peaceful negotiation, describing the conflict as one occurring essentially “inside one home.”

Garwa argued that Hausa and Fulani communities were too interconnected for force to succeed. “If you try to ‘kill’ one side—the Fulani or the Hausa—none of them will survive,” he stated.

He further asserted that the roots of the crisis lie within the same communities suffering from it. “If Nigeria were like other countries… maybe you could fight one without harming the other. But here, we are tied together like a bird with one body — you cannot cut one wing and expect the other to fly.”

According to him, oppression across local governments and abuses by both villagers and those in authority had entrenched the cycle of reprisal killings. He accused some security agents of raiding homes, killing innocent people and destroying property — actions which he said prompted retaliatory attacks by armed groups.

“Security agents go to houses, attack families, kill people, destroy homes and animals that know nothing. Then, when our people seek revenge, they also attack innocent villages who know nothing. Where will this lead us?” he asked.

Despite commanding an armed group, Garwa repeatedly appealed for forgiveness, dialogue and a “reset” of communal relations. He prayed for peace in Bakori, Faskari, Katsina and all affected areas, urging residents and leaders to abandon revenge.

The Katsina State government and security agencies have yet to respond publicly to the video or to the release of the kidnapped victims.

(SAHARA REPORTERS)