In a dramatic turn of events, five notorious bandit leaders—Abu Radda, Umar Black, Abdullahi Lankai, Jijjige, and Dabar Musa Dan Gandu—have surrendered to the Katsina State government, laying down their arms amid intensified military operations.
The feared warlords, who had long terrorized Batsari, Safana, and Jibia Local Government Areas, reportedly bowed to pressure following relentless military offensives aimed at neutralizing criminal elements in the region.
According to a security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, the armed men voluntarily disarmed, acknowledging the futility of their insurgency in the face of sustained firepower. During their surrender, they appealed to the government for alternative means of livelihood, requesting the construction of markets, hospitals, and access to clean water to facilitate their reintegration into society.
The high-profile surrender was brokered by the National Community for Security and Societal Advancement in Katsina State (NCSOSACK), an organization led by Comrade Hamisa S. Batsari, which has been actively engaging affected communities in security dialogues.
As a sign of commitment to peace, the bandit leaders handed over a cache of weapons to the military and secured the release of several hostages abducted during their reign of terror. They vowed to turn a new leaf, pledging to renounce violence and embrace peaceful coexistence.
Military officials welcomed the development but maintained that ongoing operations against unrepentant bandits would not cease until lasting peace is restored across Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and the entire North West region.
While this surrender marks a significant step toward stability, the question remains—will these former warlords truly abandon their violent past, or is this merely a tactical retreat? The coming months will determine whether this truce is genuine or just another chapter in the cycle of insurgency and amnesty in Northern Nigeria.
PIONEER NEWS 