A notorious bandit leader, Isiya Kwashen Garwa, who was declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters, was among top bandits who reportedly accepted a peace deal in Katsina State.
Zagazola Makama gathered that Garwa, whose name features among 19 most-wanted terrorists and bandits in Nigeria, has turned up in Hayin Gada community, Faskari Local Government Area, presenting himself as an advocate of dialogue.
Garwa, originally from Kamfanin Daudawa village in Faskari LGA, has long been linked to killings, kidnappings and raids across forest belts in Katsina and neighbouring states.
Security experts describe him as part of a wider network of armed leaders destabilising the North-West and North Central through cross-border operations, exploiting of weak state presence.
Despite his bloody record, Garwa’s recent posture signals a possible shift in approach, as local leaders and security stakeholders weigh the implications of his acceptance of peace terms.
Reactions remain divided. While some residents see the development as a chance to restore calm in long-troubled communities, others question the sincerity of the bandit leader, recalling the atrocities attributed to his group.
Credit : Zagazola Makama