A prominent chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Katsina State, Dr. Mustapha Inuwa, has alleged that one Local Government Area in the state has budgeted ₦300 million in its 2026 fiscal year specifically to make payments to suspected bandits operating in the area.
In an interview published by The Guardian Nigeria on January 14, 2026, Inuwa who served as Secretary to the State Government under former Governor Aminu Bello Masari further claimed that several councils badly hit by insecurity routinely pay millions of naira every month to suspected bandits, despite an existing community-initiated peace deal covering 18 local government areas.
He described the situation as a misallocation of scarce public funds that should instead be used for genuine development in the affected communities.
Key statements from Dr. Mustapha Inuwa:“There is a local government in Katsina State that has earmarked the sum of N300 million for bandits in its 2026 budget. Government also gives money to bandits on a monthly basis, and this is despite the so-called peace deal with bandits.”
Inuwa expressed serious doubts about the sustainability of the current peace arrangement, pointing out that violent incidents continue to occur almost daily across parts of the state.
He referenced recent attacks in Kankara, Malumfashi, and Jibia local government areas, where at least two people were reportedly killed, several injured, and more than a dozen abducted.
The ADC leader highlighted what he sees as a glaring inconsistency in the state government’s position: while officials have repeatedly declared that they will not negotiate with bandits, the administration is now facilitating the release of dozens of detained and convicted suspects as part of the peace process.
He questioned:“The state governor has time and again said his administration would not negotiate with bandits. If it is so, why is the government now taking this step to free detained bandits? Some of these bandits are people whom communities are afraid of their return to society.”
Drawing on his direct experience supervising two unsuccessful amnesty programs during the Masari administration, Inuwa warned that the present peace deal has given bandits detailed knowledge of the communities they once terrorized including layouts, residents, and individual homes.
He argued that this familiarity would make any future resumption of attacks far more devastating, as the criminals would no longer need local informants to plan operations.
Inuwa called for a coordinated and uniform strategy among Katsina and neighboring states facing similar banditry challenges. He stressed that adopting inconsistent approaches with some states emphasizing military (kinetic) operations while others rely on dialogue (non-kinetic) measures only weakens the overall fight against insecurity.
The allegations have reignited debate over Katsina’s non-kinetic peace initiatives, which the state government has defended as contributing to the release of hostages and relative calm in certain communities.
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