The planned release of 70 suspected bandits on trial for their alleged involvement in banditry is aimed at consolidating the peace deal between communities affected by insecurity in 15 local government areas of the state and repentant bandits, the Katsina State government has explained.
It maintained that such tactics are adopted in war situations globally.
The government said the deal had led to the release of at least 1,000 persons held captive by the suspected bandits in various attacks.
On January 2, this year, a letter came to the open detailing the state government’s plan to secure the release of the suspected bandits facing criminal trials for their involvement in banditry related activities.
The letter, classified as “SECRET,” was issued by the Ministry of Justice and addressed to the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Musa Abubakar.
In the letter, the state government, through the ministry, sought the intervention of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) to facilitate the release of the detained suspected terrorists.
The letter, which was signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Abdur-Rahman Umar, indicated that a list of 48 individuals accused of banditry-related offences had been forwarded to the Justice ministry by the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs.
According to the letter, the planned release of the suspected terrorists was to facilitate “their release from detention, as one of the conditions precedent for the continuance of the peace accord deal signed between the frontline local governments and the bandits.”
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The government also said while some of the suspects were standing trial before the Federal High Court,others remained in detention awaiting trial at various magistrates’ courts across the state.
Umar added that a separate list of about 22 inmates facing trial before various high courts across the state was submitted, seeking their release under the same peace arrangement, urging the state Chief Judge to take “necessary action” to that effect.
It was gathered that the request falls within the statutory powers of the Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee under Section 371(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Katsina State, 2021.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr Nasiru Danmusa, said the government did not do any wrong, advising any one who felt displeased with the decision to seek legal redress.