A notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Ummaru, has warned Nigerian security agencies that military crackdowns will only worsen insecurity in Katsina State and beyond.
Speaking during peace talks in Matazu Local Government Area, Ummaru declared that killing bandits is counterproductive.
“If today you kill 10 bandits, tomorrow you’ll see 20. Kill 20, another 30 will rise — both in our bushes and villages,” he said in a clip shared by Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency publication.
The bandit boss accused government and security operatives of being more interested in profit than protecting lives, while also criticising locals for tipping off authorities. He demanded that peace agreements be respected on both sides.
“To you, the DPO of Danmusa, if you want these peace talks to yield results, then every favour we seek should be considered. Anything you request from us, we will do. But if we help you and you refuse to help us, there will be no peace,” Ummaru told the police chief.
The dialogue, attended by community elders and security representatives, was aimed at fostering reconciliation amid rising attacks in Katsina and neighbouring states.
In a rare conciliatory gesture, the bandits released 28 abductees in Faskari LGA on Wednesday, a move linked to ongoing peace efforts. Elders urged both sides to commit to genuine peace for the safety of residents.
Katsina, like much of north-west Nigeria, has faced years of violent raids, mass abductions, and clashes between armed groups and security forces.
