A peace dialogue organized for communities in Batagarawa and Charanchi Local Government Areas of Katsina State has sparked controversy following claims that some of the supposed bandits at the event were actually hired locals.
According to reports shared by Katsina Times and an eyewitness account posted by security analyst @DanKatsina50 on X handle, many of the armed men at the meeting allegedly confessed that they were not bandits but were recruited to make the event look well-attended.
“We were hired to come here. Some of us are not bandits. They gave us guns and told us to attend,” some of the attendees were quoted as saying.
The peace meeting, convened by officials of Batagarawa and Charanchi local governments, had in attendance the Executive Chairman of Batagarawa Local Government, traditional leaders, and representatives of various communities.
Bakatsine added that these would put the credibility of the dialogues under questions, asking, “Where were the real bandit commanders apart from Sani Muhudinge? Why were only unfamiliar young men present?”
He further expressed hope that the Katsina State Government, led by Governor Dikko Umar Radda, would see the need to prevent local government chairmen from organizing or participating in such unproductive gatherings in the future.