The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has issued a strong condemnation of the Katsina State Government's recent action to facilitate the release of approximately 70 individuals suspected or convicted of banditry. The group firmly rejected the government's rationale that the move was necessary to sustain peace agreements with the criminal elements.
A Flawed and Dangerous Comparison
In a statement released on Tuesday, 13th January 2026, and signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Jamilu Aliyu Charanchi, the coalition described the state's justification as deeply problematic. The CNG specifically took issue with the government comparing the bandits' release to wartime prisoner exchanges.
"The comparison drawn by the Katsina State Government between the release of bandits and wartime prisoner exchanges is deeply flawed, misleading, and dangerous," Charanchi stated. He emphasized that Nigeria is not in a conventional war with a recognized adversary bound by international rules of engagement.
The coalition characterized the bandits as criminal terrorists responsible for murder, community destruction, rape, mass displacement, and economic destabilization across the North-West region. Treating them as negotiating partners without first crippling their violent capacity, the CNG argues, severely undermines state authority.
Peace from Strength, Not Weakness
While not opposed to dialogue or reintegration in principle, the CNG insisted that any negotiation with violent groups must only occur after the state has demonstrated an overwhelming capacity to defeat them. "Peace must be negotiated from a position of strength, not weakness," the statement read.
The coalition expressed alarm that the current situation in Katsina appears to be the opposite. They noted that suspects facing trial are being released as a precondition for peace, judicial processes seem subordinated to executive bargaining, and communities continue to suffer renewed attacks despite concessions.
This pattern, according to the CNG, sends a perilous message that violence is profitable, justice is negotiable, and the state lacks resolve. The group also highlighted the troubling silence regarding the fate of victims and their families, who have endured immense loss and trauma.
Betrayal of Victims and a Call for Action
The CNG argued that releasing suspects or convicts without a transparent process of truth-telling, judicial closure, restitution, and meaningful compensation constitutes a betrayal of the victims. "Peace that ignores justice does not heal; it deepens fear, resentment, and insecurity," Charanchi warned.
The timing of the decision further raised red flags for the coalition, as it coincides with a resurgence of attacks in areas like Malumfashi Local Government Area. This, they say, is clear evidence of the fragility of such peace deals.
The CNG issued several urgent calls to action:
- It urged the Federal Government and all security agencies—including the Armed Forces, Police, and DSS—to intensify and better coordinate efforts to tackle banditry.
- It called on the Katsina State Government to immediately suspend any plans to release suspected or convicted bandits under peace arrangements and to fully respect judicial processes.
- It advocated for a security-first strategy to decisively degrade the operational capacity of bandits before any dialogue is considered.
Charanchi concluded that any future engagement must be transparent, accountable, and anchored on disarmament, restitution, deradicalisation, and long-term monitoring, with victims at the centre of the process. "Northern Nigeria deserves peace with dignity, security with justice, and leadership that governs with courage and moral clarity," he asserted.
