A human rights lawyer, Bulama Bukarti, has warned that peace talks between communities in Katsina State and armed bandit groups are giving criminals a free platform to display power and spread fear.
Recently, two local government areas in Katsina — Jibia and Batsari — held meetings with bandits who were seen carrying dangerous weapons in public glare.
Videos and pictures from the gatherings showed that the gunmen were heavily armed during the peace talk.
Speaking to DAILY POST, Bukarti said the scenes were nothing short of intimidation.
According to the activist, “Bandits are coming out with heavy and dangerous weapons during peace talks, tying them to their bodies, giving speeches, and allowing themselves to be recorded on video. They do this deliberately to frighten people. That is exactly what terrorism is — creating fear to achieve political, religious, or ethnic goals.”
He compared the actions to military parades in other countries: “When you see them stepping out with heavy weapons as if they are going to a world war, it is a calculated attempt to scare the public and send a message to the Nigerian government that nothing can be done to them,” Bukarti said.
The lawyer also stressed that both the possession of such weapons and the so-called peace meetings are illegal under Nigerian law.
“This is completely forbidden. No one is allowed to own such weapons, let alone display them. Even these peace dialogues with terrorists are unlawful because there is no legal framework that allows it,” he told DAILY POST.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, an Islamic scholar known for engaging with armed groups, in a message on his Facebook page has cautioned security agencies against disrupting these meetings as it could cause further problems.
But Bukarti strongly disagrees, insisting that what is happening is nothing but surrendering to criminals.
“The public and the government must understand that these meetings are not peace. They are submission. And the more terrorists are allowed to show off their weapons, the weaker the state looks in the eyes of citizens.”
He, however, urged the government to step in directly, saying, “If the government feels it cannot fully protect communities from these attacks, then it should at least lead the talks, set clear conditions, and make sure the criminals are disarmed and rehabilitated. Leaving citizens to negotiate on their own only strengthens the bandits.”
