The resolve by Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State to engage bandits and kidnappers in the state in dialogue appears to have paid off as evident in the quick return of peace and reconciliation in the state, AUGUSTINE OKEZIE writes.
The option of dialogue as a way out of the insecurity that held Katsina State by the jugular was first blown open by Governor Aminu Bello Masari on August 29 when he engaged representatives of bandits, killer herdsmen and community elders from the eight frontline local government areas in the state with a view to finding a permanent solution to the incessant attacks and kidnappings that have gripped the state for some time.
The meeting, which was held at the state secretariat, also had in attendance the heads of security agencies, the Deputy Governor Alhaji Manir Yakubu, traditional rulers and districts heads, led by the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmuminu Kabir Usman; the Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa; transition committee chairmen of the affected front line local government areas and representatives of the association of cattle rearers popularly called Myyeti Allah.
The Nation gathered at the meeting that attendance by representatives of the bandits was made possible by the recent amnesty declared by North West governors at a recent meeting held in the state.
Masari, who spoke in Hausa, had warned at the meeting that the insecurity rocking the affected local government areas (LGAs) in the state had become embarrassing to both the state government and President Muhammadu Buhari, who is also an indigene of the state, adding: “Enough is enough!”
He further restated the commitment of his government to deploy whatever means possible in dealing decisively and ruthlessly with the activities of bandits and kidnappers in the state. He also expressed the belief that securing the lives and property of Katsina citizens lies not only in the hands of government or security personnel but also in everyone.
A stronger indication of his willingness to dialogue irrespective of location or environment was clearly indicated in his decision to meet with bandits wherever they invited him to, since he was not afraid to meet with anyone that could end the problem
He said: “As a leader, I must find the solution to the problem of my people, so that if today I die, I know how to defend myself before God. I will not allow this to continue. Enough is enough. I have directed the security operatives to take all necessary measures to change the narrative on insecurity in the state by any means necessary.”
Tortuous journey to dialogue
Travelling to the hideouts and dubious strongholds of bandits to dialogue with them was one of the most challenging and daring journeys Governor Aminu Bello Masari had undertaken. Not a few people in the state had expected that arrangements would be made to bring the bandits to the comfort zone of the governor. But they were disappointed because the governor rather chose to go into the forests, wade through bumpy and rough terrains, sometimes finding his jeep stuck in the mud on the way to Faskari-Geza and Banda in Faskari and Danmusa Local Government Areas.
The first day of the dialogue meeting, which held at Gbagegi Primary School, Dankolo for Dandume and Sabwa local government areas, witnessed a heavy downpour which threatened to disrupt it, but the governor and other top government functionaries at the meeting deployed umbrellas and other improvised covers to endure the weather condition.
Although the journey to the respective strongholds of the bandits was definitely tortuous, it presented a firsthand opportunity for the governor to appreciate the challenges and living conditions of the people and the need to urgently address them
Governor’s appeal/message to bandits and kidnappers
Masari’s message to the bandits at each meeting point was consistently hinged on the bandits realising the futility of their engagements and isolation in the bush, the need to fear God in dealing with their brothers and community, embracing peace and concord and not daring the ability of government to win the war against banditry and kidnapping should they persist.
He further told the people who turned out in their numbers that it is better they abandon the bush and killing of their brothers and embrace peace and amnesty.
He said: “If you gather all the cattle, get all the money in this world and shed innocent blood, there is yet no benefit. You can never defeat government. If you kill 10 soldiers, government will bring 100 more and also bring thousands of guns. We will look into your requests, build roads and schools and ensure better quality of lives.’’
Governor Masari further assured residents of the state that the dialogue would bring peace to Katsina State, North-West and Nigeria, saying: “We believed that we have started well and there is nothing better than peace.”
While restating the commitment of his government to rendering assistance to the Fulani people living in forest areas, he urged them to embrace dialogue and live peacefully with one another in their respective territories. He promised to rebuild the schools and other decayed infrastructure and address other requests they had made.
Complaints/grievances of repentant bandits
Repentant bandits who appeared at the dialogue meetings with Governor Masari at each point, never ceased to accuse security operatives, particularly SARS and the Nigerian Army, of extorting money and cattle from them in exchange for their support and supply of weapons.
Idris Yayande, one of the group leaders of the bandits, told the governor that large scale extortion perpetrated by the security operatives had seriously undermined efforts by any government to address insecurity challenges in the state and country.
He said: “Some soldiers, policemen and other security agents are fuelling banditry, kidnapping and other heinous crimes bedevilling the state through large scale extortion in return for supporting us.”
Earlier, the leader of the Volunteers (Yan-sakai) in the state, Lawal Tsoho, had accused the army, police and other security agencies in the state of fuelling bandits’ attacks on innocent civilians.
He said: “Soldiers, policemen and other security agencies and politicians in the state are against the ongoing dialogue between the bandits and the state government because they are benefiting from it. I have all the evidence to prove my statement.”
He urged the state to help facilitate the release of their members arrested by security agencies and detained in various prisons across the country.
He said: “Some of our members were apprehended in villages across the state and detained for numerous years without committing offence.”
One of the bandits, whose name was not immediately known, said: “We have some complaints. Our biggest complaint is that some of our members were arrested and detained in different prisons across the state. Government should release them before dialogue.
“They are: Alhaji Lawal Bandu, Ibrahim Nabutamu, Sani Marji, Sani Zafi, Lawal Mairuwa. And and there are some of our children that were arrested by the army in Layin-Mahuta last year: Ali, Adamu and Abdurrahman. And since then, nobody has told us where they are and what happened to them.
“So, we are pleading with the state government to release them to us. We don’t have anybody in our custody now. We promised before that nobody will farm within this area. But because of the dialogue, we have surrendered. If you hear of any attack, it is not from us.”
Another of the repentant bandits, Haruna Mazge, blamed the prevailing security problem in the state on farmers who blocked cattle routes, saying 70 per cent of the cattle routes have been blocked by farmers.
He said: “Farmers in the state have blocked all cattle routes. Even roads that our cattle do pass, they blocked them. If you look at our problem, consider that of farmers too,” he said.
He, however, said the effort of the state government to tackle the security challenges in the state had prompted some of them to repent from their deadly attacks.
Mazge further called on other bandits whom he said were terrorising villages in the state to surrender their arms to sustain the peace.
He said: “This forest that we are hiding from is not beyond government’s power. Since the governor has forgiven us, we should not betray government in this dialogue by attacking any village in the state again.”
Another bandit, Yahaya Fulani Dangogo, who appeared to set the tone for the dilemma of the Fulani, described them as browbeaten and left to despair in the circumstances they found themselves in.
While listing their grievances as demanded by Governor Masari, which warranted their descent into banditry, he mentioned deprivation, denials and isolation, deceit by those in authority, including traditional rulers, DPOs and security operatives, including the Yansakai and SARS, and several other members of the political class.
He said: “Yansakai and several other security operatives’ attacks and harassments are never checked and no action is taken. If you are killed, no one asks a question; your people will cry until they are tired.
“I am begging the governor that any group that does not follow Islamic teachings should be dissolved. We don’t want armchair leadership. Every appointee of government must be transparent and up an doing.’’
Swap agreements between government and bandits
A major fallout from the various dialogue meetings held between the governor and the bandits was the offer to swap victims of banditry with the release of arrested bandits between both sides.
The leader of one of the gangs, Alhaji Mansuni, who spoke on behalf of others, told Governor Masari at one of the dialogue meetings held at Angwa Tsamia Primary School, Birni Gogo, in Faskari Local Government Area, that the groups were pleased with his presence and drive to ensure peaceful coexistence in the state and the country. And to reciprocate his gesture of freeing their kinsmen and fellow bandits who were in the custody of security operatives, they were renouncing banditry and would immediately begin to free the abductees in their camps.
He further told the governor that fear of insecurity, deprivation and indiscriminate arrest and killing of herdsmen by security agents led them to arm themselves and engage in banditry.
He said: “We are happy with your coming to visit us right in our hideouts. We the Fulani have challenges which government should look into, including construction of roads, education, infrastructure and social living conditions.
“Again, indiscriminate arrest by security agencies and extortion by members of SARS, as well the attitude of the Hausa in the rural communities, who refused to coexist with the Fulani, requires we all sit down and iron out our differences.”
The state government also acceded to the swap arrangement by offering to release those arrested.
Speaking on efforts to implement the terms of the agreement, the governor said those in detention in Katsina and Kano states had already been brought back to Katsina as the first step in the release process.
He said: “They can talk to them now. But what we are saying is that we have hundreds of people being detained for ransom, so we want these people back. It is easier for them to bring them back than we bringing them back because all of them are detained in Zamfara.”
Latest reports indicate that the swap agreement has begun with daily exchange of releases from both parties.
Remediation efforts by government
Government plans to reconstruct and reintegrate repentant bandits and herdsmen were unfolded during the dialogue meetings where the governor insisted that with the return of peace in the areas, development activities and the provision of needed infrastructure like roads, education and commerce would no longer be delayed.
He said: “If there is peace, most of the things they requested are things we have already started under the first amnesty programme. So, if peace returns to the areas we have visited so far, we assure that developmental projects will continue to come.
“It is most important. You can see the large turnout of Fulani community leaders, those leaving in the forest and those living on the fringes of the forest. And for them to agree to come here, all of them, including the farming community, to discuss and talk peace, that is the most important thing.
“So, if they agree together in harmony because this is the foundation, we are starting with the bottom up approach. With the communities, the neighbours living peacefully with one another, we can transit to local government and state levels.”
“So, I do believe that we are on the right course, and we will follow up on all the promises we made to them, especially regarding those that have been detained for years without being charged to court. Why are you detaining people for years without going to court and without granting them bail?
“We intend definitely to bring them out on bail and hand them over to their respective communities and watch developments in the next one month in these areas.’’