A notorious bandit leader, Isya Kwashen Garwa, has released 40 kidnap victims in Katsina State, but warned that his group may return to violence if the government fails to address alleged killings by security operatives.
The hostages were freed in Faskari Local Government Area during what local officials described as part of an ongoing peace dialogue with Garwa’s fighters. The development follows the release of 30 captives earlier in the week, bringing the total number of freed victims to about 70.
In a video statement, Garwa put the figure at 72, explaining that two people had been released earlier in addition to Wednesday’s 30 and the latest 40. He insisted the releases were tied to assurances made during a peace meeting in Faskari, not as a result of pressure from security forces.
“You have seen that these people were released because of the promises we made during the peace pact meeting in Faskari,” Garwa said at the handover. “They were 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 bandit leader accused security operatives of attacking his community in Ruwan-Godiya on Friday, alleging that both his men and Hausa civilians were killed in the raid.
“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 took property, including motorcycles,” he claimed.
Garwa warned that the alleged killings could derail the fragile truce: “If you do not take decisive action, we will return to our previous fighting. If things worsen, you will tell the world that we violated the promises we made,” he declared.
The release of the hostages marks the latest outcome of months of negotiations between armed groups and community leaders in parts of northwestern Nigeria, where kidnappings and violence continue to unsettle rural communities.
