Notorious bandit leader Isya Kwashen Garwa has freed another 40 people in Katsina State as part of a continuing peace arrangement with local authorities. The handover, which took place in Faskari Local Government Area, was confirmed by officials present at the event.
This latest release follows the freeing of 30 hostages earlier in the week. According to Garwa, a total of 72 people have now been released, including two who were set free before Wednesday’s operation.
Speaking in a video obtained by SaharaReporters, Garwa said the action was a direct outcome of commitments made during a peace dialogue held in Faskari. He emphasized that his group was not forced to release the captives but did so voluntarily to honour the agreement.
He explained that he personally entered the forest to gather those still held captive and oversee their release. However, Garwa expressed serious concerns about an alleged attack on Friday in Ruwan-Godiya, where he claimed security personnel killed members of his community, including Hausa civilians. According to him, men, women, and children were among the victims, while motorcycles and other property were also seized.
Garwa warned that unless the government takes swift action over the reported killings, his group could reconsider the peace deal and return to armed conflict.
“You can see them — there are 40 of them here. Two people were released earlier, and on Wednesday, we freed 30 others, making 72 in total,” he said. “We were neither threatened nor defeated before releasing them; we did it because of the promises made during the peace meeting.”
He further stated: “While working to secure their release, I received information that security forces attacked our people in Ruwan-Godiya, killing men, women, and children and confiscating property. This shows that some elements within the security services may not want peace.”
Garwa urged the authorities to address the issue immediately. “If you fail to act, we will return to fighting, and when things escalate, you will accuse us of breaking the agreement,” he warned, adding, “No life is more valuable than another. If peace is to succeed, it must be pursued sincerely and with the fear of God.”
The mass release in Faskari comes after months of intermittent negotiations between bandit factions and local stakeholders aimed at reducing abductions and insecurity in Nigeria’s northwest region.
