On Sunday, September 19, 2025, Hon. Surajo Aliyu Daudawa, the Chairman of Faskari Local Government Area in Katsina State, visited the forest and negotiated with bandits, after which he further secured the release of 26 victims who had been kidnapped in the Tafoki region.
Despite repeated advisories from security agencies and government authorities against engaging in negotiations with terrorists or bandits, Mr. Daudawa reportedly convened a face-to-face meeting with a Fulani group that had previously established a peace agreement with the local community.
The negotiation was facilitated by a well-known bandit leader, Isiya Kwashen Garwa, the ringleader who ensured the safe return of the abducted victims to their respective places. Photographic evidence from the scene shows the local government chairman standing alongside Mr. Garwa, who was visibly armed, with weapons and ammunition displayed in his jacket.
Faskari Local Government Area has been one of the regions most severely impacted by banditry in Katsina State, experiencing frequent incidents of kidnapping and violent raids in recent years. Reports from SaharaReporters have previously highlighted that the Defense Chief has observed that attempts at negotiation often yield unfavorable outcomes.
General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defense Staff, has warned Nigeria against pursuing peace deals or negotiations with armed bandits, emphasizing that such endeavors tend to empower criminal elements rather than mitigate their actions.
In an interview conducted in the Hausa language, General Musa articulated that individuals who seek to engage in peace settlements with bandits are jeopardizing their own safety and that of their communities, as these so-called agreements are frequently exploited by the criminals to regroup and extend their operations.