You are the leader of the Katsina Security Community Initiative, created to promote long-term peace in the state. What is your view on peace...
You are the leader of the Katsina Security Community Initiative, created to promote long-term peace in the state. What is your view on peace agreements with bandits?
This so-called peace agreement, in reality, I can see from a particular viewpoint where some may find it beneficial. However, assigning worth to the peace deal highlights the inadequacy of the state. The state's failure refers to the fact that local residents are seeking help from the government, yet the government is unable to safeguard them.
The government is unable to assist them. They have no place to turn or report to. Do you recall when Muhammadu Buhari was in power, he was in Daura and 238 children were taken, forcing them to pay money to retrieve the children.
Therefore, people now realize there is nothing they can do. The only way they can experience a bit of fresh air is by reaching an agreement with the so-called bandits, allowing them to go to work and gather their crops.
The average person now believes that since he cannot receive assistance from the system, or the government, he has no problem engaging with these individuals to ensure his tranquility.
On the bandits' side, due to being under pressure, they were unable to enter towns or spend the money they had gathered as ransom. Therefore, they seek some respite and also need to strengthen their weapons.
Therefore, they are seeking to engage in discussions under this so-called peace agreement with certain government officials.
A treaty for peace is a global framework that involves specific terms and requirements. The first of these is disarmament.
Regrettably, during these meetings, the bandits determine the location, the attendees, and they arrive armed. In the case of our local government, Kurfi, I am aware that the bandits have instructed that the peace agreement be held in a village approximately five kilometers from the main town. They specified that the meeting would occur by 9:30 in the morning and that no police in uniform should attend. This was agreed upon by the district head and all those involved. The local government chairman and the police were present at 9:30 AM, but the bandits did not arrive until 3:30 PM. They came with their weapons and traditional attire. What was particularly notable was that one of the bandit commanders, Abdur-Rahman Jankare, who was responsible for the killing of a former assistant police commissioner, attended the meeting wearing the latter's uniform, complete with his name on it, to demonstrate that he had indeed killed him. He arrived for the negotiations accompanied by numerous guns and supplies. Therefore, when discussing the peace deal, I view it as either an act of intimidation by the bandits or a form of submission.
It's a situation similar to what Okonjo Iweala mentioned yesterday. She questioned how government officials can sit down and negotiate with murderers and rapists, who arrive with their weapons, if it's not due to negligence. This is unacceptable anywhere in the world.
Time and again, the governor of Katsina state has stated that he is not involved in the agreement, yet we observe local government chairmen, district heads, and other traditional leaders. What is your opinion on this?
How can the governor claim he has no involvement when local government chairmen and district heads are present, all of whom fall under his authority? Do you believe any local government chairman could make a peace agreement without the governor's approval? Furthermore, funds were provided to the bandits.
Do you have evidence?
Certainly, as the bandits claim that was the reason the peace agreement was postponed, stating they did not receive the full amount of money they were promised.
How much was involved?
Well, according to what I was told, they mentioned they couldn't attend that day for the deal, as they had been promised N100 million but received only N80 million! Therefore, they requested a remaining amount of N20 million in order for them to come to the meeting.
Are the communities the ones supplying the funds, or do you believe the money is coming from another source?
Which community? If you are selling the entire local government, I don't believe they can come up with as much as N20 million on their own, since the area, the whole surroundings are entirely ruined, as for the past five years, there has been virtually no farming.
What is even more alarming is that 70 percent of primary and secondary schools are not functioning; healthcare centers are also not operational. Therefore, the real concern now is what the long-term effects of this situation will be? Additionally, the widespread availability of drugs in these regions is deeply troubling. From a broader perspective, this banditry appears to be primarily focused on the area you refer to as the country's food basket.
Can the authorities deal with the criminals?
There must be, if the country has effective leadership. And I truly believe no leader has harmed Nigeria as much as Buhari.
What do you mean?
Sure, during the eight years he held power, the entire government demonstrated a complete lack of capability.
Secondly, when he arrived, there was no banditry in the Northwest. How can you, as the leader of a nation, be on vacation in your own state while 243 students from a boarding secondary school were kidnapped, and you're there? They had to gather funds and pay the bandits to get them back.
Who is failing to do what regarding the peace agreement?
First, the Katsina Social Security Initiative did not begin yesterday or last year. It has been in place for the past three years.
And it's not about attacking the government or anything like that. No, we believed that as elites, we had a duty to at least observe what was happening and figure out how we could address the problems. Some of these individuals who were released will visit my home in the village. I reside there (Kurfi) when I'm in the area. The reason we started this initiative was because when they invaded Kurfi, people were kidnapped nearby, and the bandits had to be paid.
So, I chose to go and remain there for 28 days. I needed to leave the town to gather people who need to take care of their own affairs. The last time, one of the women was released. She had been raped.
She was essentially ruined. Even in certain communities we visited, nine women were raped by 40 bandits throughout the night. We took them to the hospital. After the tests were completed, the doctor told me, 'there's nothing we can do except take them for VVF'. In one instance, both the mother and the daughter were raped. And now, this has become a new normal in that region. Bandits will call you and demand, 'bring your wife or your daughter'. Where is the peace agreement? Where is the peace agreement then? There is no peace agreement.
They treat these security issues as a business. And regardless, morally, who is the government to say, okay, come on, we made this deal, so we have forgiven you?
No administration has the authority to pardon a criminal simply because the offense was not committed against the governor's children or the local government head's children. It was against the children of certain individuals. However, when examining the so-called peace agreement, those who have been affected remain unheard.
Some might argue that a similar proposal was extended to the Niger Delta. Is there a parallel between the two?
No, it's not the same. The militants from the Niger Delta do not target an ordinary palm wine seller and demand ransom to force him to sell his palm for money. One of the initial errors the government made was when they invited them to Abuja for talks and housed them in the Hilton. They thought to themselves that this is where they would spend all your money while you remain there. This situation further angered them.
Therefore, the people of the Niger Delta were struggling against the government in order to achieve a better life, given that they reside in the region where the nation's resources are developed.
It's only fair to acknowledge that if you visit some of these regions, you'll understand. This is a region that could be transformed into another Dubai, given the resources available in the Niger Delta. Therefore, the Niger Delta stands out because it is favored by the people, as it safeguards their interests.
On the opposite end of the banditry, or Boko Haram, you instill fear in ordinary people. Therefore, you lack the community's support. You attack them, force them from their homes, prevent them from farming, fishing, or engaging in any other activities.
Why are the bandits permitted to retreat to the bushes carrying their weapons?
Since the bandits set the tone; thus, even now, when you visit the villages, as I did last time, you see them riding motorcycles, armed with AK-47s. However, this situation also carries political implications. Politicians promote this so-called peace for their own political gain during elections. Many of these villages remain inaccessible, and during elections, as was done previously, they hand over the voting boxes to the local bandit leaders. This prevents your opponents from reaching those areas and casting their votes. The bandits then manage those boxes to ensure a thumbprint for the political party.
Is this a claim or...
It is a truth. Question any politician, all these various groups and have them confirm under oath that they did not provide funds to the bandit during the election. These are undeniable facts.
How many local governments in Katsina have entered into the peace agreement, or have you not accounted for them?
No, but many local governments. However, the unfortunate part is that the bandits move from the areas (LGAs) that have peace agreements to those that don't. They go and rob the places without such deals. Afterwards, they bring the kidnapped people to the local governments that have peace agreements, and then they say, okay, we've made an agreement with you. You won't bother us. You won't speak to us about what we do. An elderly man from one of the villages asked for assistance, but when he contacted the authorities, they responded, look, we've made a peace deal with them. We promised not to interfere in this local government. This is what has occurred.
Last week, there was a story suggesting that those leading the peace agreement have turned it into a financial opportunity. A report indicated that some individuals, who weren't even thieves, were presented as bandits to increase the funds they received. Have you come across this?
That is correct, as some of the bandits can be seen in one local government area, where they are involved in a peace agreement, yet they appear again when you move to another local government.
But what is the reason that the peace agreement is not functioning?
Many of these large gangs have members, up to 200 in number, and all are armed with AK 47s.
Where are they obtaining them from?
Certainly, they are purchasing them through the open market.
But it's very expensive.
They abduct individuals and set demands. There was an instance where they were paid more than N300 million. When they targeted the train (Abuja-Kaduna), the cost amounted to over N2 billion for them. Therefore, this is what they carry out on a daily basis.
What makes it challenging for the government to remove their weapons?
The government is not genuine, and the governors are also not sincere. It's completely absurd for a governor to claim he doesn't have control over the army or the police. If the governor is in charge of organizing the police force along with the army stationed in this region, and provides some financial support, then when feedback is needed, it should be provided.
Masari, during his tenure as governor, managed to coordinate the GOC, the police commissioner, the DSS, and the vigilante group, as they are familiar with everyone, since these individuals are not outsiders. They come from the same area.
Is there a connection between the peace agreement and the events we have observed in Kano?
Outlaws or Boko Haram have no interest in seizing cities. Their focus is on taking over villages. They surround the city, preventing anyone from within the city from reaching the village. There are individuals from Maiduguri who, over the past 15 years, have not been able to return to their hometown. They also strangle the local economy.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).
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