Katsina Peace Talks: Locals Claim They Were Hired to Pose as Bandits

A peace dialogue organized for communities in Batagarawa and Charanchi Local Government Areas of Katsina State has sparked widespread controversy after reports emerged that some of the supposed bandits who attended the event were actually hired locals posing as insurgents.

According to reports shared by Katsina Times and an eyewitness account posted by security analyst Dan Katsina on X, several of the armed men present at the meeting allegedly admitted that they were not bandits. Instead, they were recruited by organizers to make the peace meeting appear more successful and well-attended than it truly was.

“We were hired to come here. Some of us are not bandits. They gave us guns and told us to attend,” some of the participants were quoted as saying. Their revelation has caused public outrage, with many residents questioning the credibility and motive behind the peace dialogue.

The meeting, which took place on Saturday, was organized by officials from the Batagarawa and Charanchi local governments. It was attended by the Executive Chairman of Batagarawa Local Government, traditional rulers, community leaders, and representatives from various villages. The event was reportedly aimed at fostering reconciliation between local communities and armed groups operating in the area, which has suffered from frequent attacks, kidnappings, and bandit-related violence.

However, observers say the alleged hiring of fake participants undermines the sincerity of the initiative and highlights the growing problem of corruption and mismanagement in local security efforts. Security analyst Bakatsine, who reported on the event, raised serious questions about its legitimacy. “Where were the real bandit commanders apart from Sani Muhudinge? Why were only unfamiliar young men present?” he asked, suggesting that the meeting was staged for political publicity rather than genuine peacebuilding.

He further expressed hope that the Katsina State Government, under the leadership of Governor Dikko Umar Radda, would take decisive action to prevent such deceptive gatherings in the future. According to him, any meaningful dialogue must involve verified community representatives, credible security stakeholders, and genuine repentant bandits, not paid actors pretending to be part of the crisis. He urged the authorities to prioritize sincerity, transparency, and accountability in all peace and security efforts across the state.