Several bandit leaders causing havoc in Batsari, Safana, and Jibia Local Government Areas of Katsina State have reportedly surrendered to troops of the Nigerian Army.
According to a counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, the bandit leaders who surrendered include Abu Radda, Umar Black, Abdullahi Lankai, Jijjige, and Dabar Musa Dan Gandu, all of whom had operated from the Jibia axis.
Security sources quoted by the publication revealed that the bandits surrendered following sustained military operations in the region, which left them with no choice but to embrace the peace deal.
Makama reported that the repentant bandits handed over their weapons to the troops and also released several hostages they had abducted.
The former bandits further appealed to the government for alternative means of livelihood, urging authorities to engage them in the construction of markets and hospitals as part of their reintegration efforts.
The surrender was reportedly facilitated by the National Community for Security and Societal Advancement in Katsina (NCSOSACK), an organization led by Hamisa Batsari, which played a key role in the peace negotiations.
