The Katsina State Government has defended its controversial plan to facilitate the release of 70 persons facing trial for alleged involvement in banditry, insisting the move is aimed at consolidating peace agreements reached with armed groups terrorising communities across the state.

The decision has sparked widespread outrage following the emergence of a leaked government letter seeking judicial intervention to secure the release of the suspects currently undergoing prosecution in various courts in the state.

Justifying the move, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Nasir Muazu, said the planned release was part of efforts to sustain peace accords reached between affected communities and what he described as ‘repentant bandits.’

Muazu disclosed this in an interview with DCL Hausa on Saturday, stressing that the peace agreements had yielded tangible results, including the release of about 1,000 abducted persons.

According to him, no fewer than 15 local government areas were involved in the peace arrangements, which he said significantly reduced attacks and led to the freedom of kidnapped residents.

He said, “The peace agreements have resulted in the release of about 1,000 abducted persons across several communities.”

Defending the decision further, Muazu likened the proposed release of the suspects to prisoner exchanges often carried out during and after wars.

“All over the world, after wars, prisoner exchanges usually take place. During Nigeria’s civil war, prisoners were exchanged, just as it happened in negotiations involving Boko Haram,” he said.

“The issue is not whether an offence was committed or not, but ensuring peace. Prisoners’ exchange is not a new thing in the history of war and peace.”

The commissioner maintained that neither the Ministry of Justice nor the courts had violated any law, adding that those dissatisfied with the decision were free to seek legal redress.

The controversy followed the publication of a letter by Sahara Reporters, issued by the Katsina State Ministry of Justice and addressed to the Chief Judge of the state.

The letter requested the intervention of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee to facilitate the release of the suspects.

Signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Abdur-Rahman Umar, the letter stated that a list of 48 suspects accused of various banditry-related offences had been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice by the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs.

According to the letter, the proposed release was to serve as “one of the conditions precedent for the continuance of the peace accord deal signed between the frontline local governments and the bandits.”

It further noted that while some of the suspects had been arraigned before the Federal High Court, many were still facing trial at various magistrates’ courts across the state.

Another list containing about 22 inmates standing trial before different high courts in Katsina State was also submitted for possible release under the same peace arrangement.

The ministry urged the Chief Judge to take “necessary action,” citing Section 371(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Katsina State, 2021, which outlines the powers of the Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee.

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