Freedom for bandits: Whither justice for victims? By Vanguard Editorial Board on January 28, 2026 – Recommended Nigerian Newspaper Report 23
Thousands of families have been traumatised. Children have been orphaned, farmers chased off their land, schools shut down, and local economies crippled in the North-West zone of the country in recent times.
But the reported decision of the Katsina State government to release 70 suspected bandits has unsettled Nigerians who have been calling for justice for the victims of the dastardly acts of the bandits.
In a leaked letter, stamped “Secret,” dated January 2, 2026, the state’s Director of Public Prosecution, Abdurahman Umar, reportedly wrote the state Chief Judge, Justice Musa Abubakar, requesting the immediate release of 70 suspects as part of conditions agreed with bandits to sustain peace deal with the government.
Banditry is not a victimless crime, so to contemplate the release of suspected perpetrators without transparent, credible processes raises a fundamental question: where is justice for the victims?
Justifying the planned release of the bandits, the state Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasiru Danmusa, said it was aimed at consolidating peace and securing the freedom of abducted persons.
Dialogue and rehabilitation are not, in themselves, illegitimate tools in conflict resolution. Indeed, post-conflict societies around the world have used amnesty and reintegration, carefully designed and strictly conditioned, to end cycles of violence.
But these approaches only work when they are anchored on truth, accountability, victim consent, and the clear authority of the law. Anything short of that becomes appeasement, not peacebuilding.
While the state government argues that the process fell under section 371(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Katsina State, 2021, the Nigerian Constitution vests criminal justice in the rule of law. Suspected criminals must be investigated, charged, tried, and, if found guilty, punished accordingly.
Secret releases undermine this framework and send a perilous signal: that taking up arms against the state may ultimately be rewarded with freedom, cash, or political attention. This is a moral hazard Nigeria can ill afford.
Years of negotiations and peace arrangements have failed to deliver sustained security, with the killings of innocent civilians on the rise. Also, soldiers, police officers, and local vigilantes have paid with their lives to apprehend these criminals.
What message is sent to them when those arrested are quietly released? What confidence can communities have in future operations if today’s suspects become tomorrow’s freed men?
There is also the unresolved issue of victims’ rights. Were the families of those murdered consulted? Have abducted persons been returned? Have stolen cattle been recovered? Have communities been compensated? Peace without justice is fragile, and reconciliation imposed from above—without the consent and healing of victims—is often short-lived.
If Katsina State believes that disengagement and reintegration are necessary, then it must adopt a transparent, lawful, and nationally coordinated framework. This should include public disclosure of criteria for eligibility; independent verification that beneficiaries genuinely renounce violence; prosecution of those responsible for grave crimes; restitution to victims; continuous monitoring; and federal oversight. Anything less risks turning the state into a revolving door for criminals.
While calling on the Katsina State Government to have a rethink, it should be noted that releasing bandits without justice is not reconciliation; it is a gamble with the nation’s conscience and security. We urge Katsina to choose the harder, lawful path, because that is the only road to durable peace.
Research Credits
*This compilation series was first researched, written, poster designed and last updated by Toju Micheal Ogbe.
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Freedom for bandits: Whither justice for victims? By Vanguard Editorial Board is a report series by PositiveNaija aims to amplify and preserve the truth as done on the editorials of various Nigerian newspapers.
