
Four bandit leaders on Thursday said they have denounced their illegal activities in Katsina state and surrendered 45 rustled cattle, two General Purpose machine guns, 24 AK 47 assault rifles, 109 GMPG ammunition, 95 7.62MM Live Ammunition, among others.
Katsina State is one of the regions worst hit by the activities of bandits across the country.
Last December, bandits kidnapped over 300 pupils from a boy’s secondary boarding school in Kankara, about two-hour drive from the state capital, Katsina.
The boys were released within a week after successful negotiations with the kidnappers, the Katsina government said.
As at time of filing this report, it is not yet clear whether the bandits who surrendered on Thursday were granted amnesty.
The Federal Government has rejected the notion of amnesty for bandits but some state governments, especially those in the North-West, have been quite open to the idea.
The four bandit leaders were identified as Sale Turwa, Mani Turwa, Ado Sarki, and Sani Mai-Daji and were reportedly residing in the thick forest of Illela in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Sanusi Buba disclosed this in a press conference held at the command headquarters, Katsina.
Buba explained that their surrender is part of the Katsina State Police Command’s effort in the ongoing onslaught against banditry, armed robbery, kidnapping, and other forms of crimes and criminality in the state