Notorious bandit kingpins operating in Dan Musa Local Government Area of Katsina State have voluntarily surrendered their weapons and released 16 kidnapped victims as part of a disarmament initiative led by the Nigerian Army, the military has said.

According to a statement posted at the weekend by the Nigerian Army, the operation was conducted under the leadership of Operation Fasin Yamma in collaboration with local stakeholders. The militants, identified as Kamulu Buzaru, Manore, Nagwaggo, Lalbi, Alhaji Sani, Dogo Baidu, Dogo Nahalle, and Abdulkadir Black laid down their arms on June 14 and pledged to abandon banditry.

In a show of goodwill, the group freed seven women and nine children from captivity and promised to release the remaining hostages in their custody by June 15.

“The individuals expressed their commitment to renounce banditry and embrace peaceful coexistence,” the Army said, adding that all recovered weapons had been secured and handed over to authorities. The released hostages were transferred to local government officials for reunification with their families.

MEANWHILE, the Katsina State Government has announced plans to open literacy classes for repentant bandits in the state, as part of efforts to reintegrate them into the society.

The Executive Director of the state’s Agency for Mass Education, Hajiya Bilkisu Muhammad-Kakai, revealed this to newsmen in Katsina, yesterday. She said: “The agency is ready to deploy facilitators to run the classes, where both Islamic and Western education will be offered to change their behaviour and lifestyle.

“We will liaise with local government chairmen to open the classes in phases. The core subjects are Islamic and Western education.”

The executive director, who reviewed the agency’s performance within the last six months, said the agency had opened 68 new adult education classes.
Muhammad-Kakai further explained that the government had also opened a Basic Post Literacy Class at Katsina Correctional Centre.

“The Basic Post Literacy Class is to assist enrolled inmates to reach up to the university to obtain a degree certificate,” she added. According to her, she toured all the local government areas and inspected adult education classes and women’s centres to assess their condition.

She said the state government had made financial provisions in this year’s budget to address problems facing them.
Muhammad-Kakai also commended Gov Dikko Radda for supporting the agency in carrying out its mandate.