The Katsina State Government has revealed that bandit leaders have demanded the construction of schools and hospitals as part of negotiations for a controversial “peace deal.”
The announcement, made public on September 18, 2025, has sparked intense debate across the region, with stakeholders questioning the feasibility and implications of acceding to such demands.
According to sources within the Katsina State Government, bandit groups, notorious for years of violent attacks, kidnappings, and extortion in rural communities, have proposed these infrastructure projects as conditions for ceasing hostilities.
The demands were reportedly raised during a series of clandestine meetings between government officials and bandit representatives in Faskari, a local government area heavily affected by banditry.
One high-profile meeting included a notorious bandit leader allegedly responsible for a deadly mosque attack that claimed over 30 lives earlier this year.
The Katsina government, in a statement described the bandits’ demands as part of a broader dialogue aimed at restoring peace to the region.
“The bandits have expressed willingness to lay down arms, but they are asking for community development projects, including schools and hospitals, to address long-standing neglect in their areas,” a government spokesperson said.
The spokesperson emphasized that the state is cautiously exploring these talks to reduce violence, which has displaced thousands and disrupted livelihoods across Katsina.
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