The elderly bandits leader is regarded as one of the oldest commanders of armed groups terrorising parts of Katsina.
A 70-year-old notorious bandits kingpin in Katsina State, Sani Geza, has expressed excitement over a “peace agreement” reached between community leaders and armed groups in Matazu Local Government Area of the state.
Geza, who spoke after a dialogue session described the development as a long-awaited chance for him and his fighters to abandon violence and return to normal life.
“This is what we have been seeking for a very long time. Today, God has made the dream come true. Our hope is that this peace will be sustained and not wasted,” Geza said.
The elderly bandits leader is regarded as one of the oldest commanders of armed groups terrorising parts of Katsina.
He admitted that many of his followers had grown weary of the endless cycle of killings, kidnappings, and reprisal attacks.
According to security reports, they had been waiting for an opportunity to reconcile with their communities and find relief from years of conflict.
Local officials said the “peace deal” was part of ongoing initiatives to restore calm in troubled areas through dialogue, confidence-building, and community-driven solutions.
The Katsina State government and security agencies have in recent months intensified efforts to tackle the twin menace of banditry and kidnapping, combining heavy military offensives with peace-building engagements in rural communities.
The state, which shares borders with the volatile forests of Zamfara and Niger Republic, has for years been a hotbed of deadly bandit attacks, with thousands displaced and hundreds killed despite repeated government assurances.
It remains unclear how long the latest truce will hold, as previous peace deals between bandits and authorities in the North-West have collapsed amid fresh waves of killings and abductions.
On Saturday, government officials and traditional leaders held another round of peace talks with bandits in Matazu, aimed at reducing hostilities and fostering dialogue. The meeting brought together local government leaders and representatives of armed groups operating in the region.
The engagement follows a similar meeting last week in Faskari Local Government Area, where notorious bandit kingpins—some carrying weapons and ammunition—were in attendance.
Authorities say the talks are part of broader efforts to address insecurity in Katsina, but concerns remain among residents about the sincerity of the armed groups and the risks involved in negotiating under tense conditions.
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters had reported that notorious bandits leader, Isya Kwashen Garwa, released 40 additional people in Faskari after a peace dialogue with local authorities. The release came days after 30 people were freed, bringing the total number of captives released to about 70.
In a video obtained, Garwa confirmed the figure, noting that two earlier releases brought the tally to 72. He stressed that his group was not coerced into freeing the captives and that he personally went into the bush to gather and release them.
However, Garwa raised concerns over an alleged attack by security forces in Ruwan-Godiya, where he claimed men, women, and children were killed and motorcycles seized. He warned that unless the government addressed the alleged killings, his group might reconsider the peace agreement.
Earlier this month, Katsina State’s Security Commissioner, Nasiru Mu’azu, told the BBC that bandits had demanded the construction of schools, hospitals, and grazing reserves as part of peace efforts. He admitted that the collapse of the state’s earlier amnesty programme worsened insecurity, expanding attacks from five LGAs between 2011 and 2015 to 25 LGAs by 2023.
Mu’azu explained that the current dialogue initiative was driven not by the government, but by local village leaders desperate to halt years of killings, cattle rustling, and abductions.
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