By: Zagazola Makama
A suspected bandit kingpin has publicly declared that members of his group lack formal education but possess proficiency in handling weapons, particularly the AK-47 rifle, while addressing a gathering in Dutsenma LGA in Katsina State.
In a video obtained by Zagazola, the armed group leader, surrounded during dialogue, was seen displaying a rifle as the crowd cheered.
“We did not go to school and we are not educated, but even without schooling, we know how to operate an AK-47,” he said.
The kingpin further compared their situation with that of educated individuals, stating: “While you gather books on your shelves, we have gathered AK-47 rifles,” as he raised his weapon before the crowd. The crowd chanted Yeyyyy.
He also accused authorities of failing to honour agreements reached during previous dialogue efforts.
“If we make promises to you, we try to fulfil them. We expect you to do the same. This is one of our major concerns,” he said.
The bandit leader claimed that members of his group were presently detained across several states, alleging that many of them had been arrested without subsequent release despite negotiations.
“There is no state without our people in detention; Katsina, Kano and even Abuja. Many of our men and women have been detained, but when we ask for their release, nothing happens. These are our complaints to the Nigerian leaders,” he added.
He further alleged that government representatives often engage them in dialogue without following through on agreed terms.
“Your leaders come to meet us and we agree on certain issues, but once they leave, they go back and sit comfortably in their ACs, without fulfilling those promises,” he said as the crowd chanted with laughter.
The kingpin warned that failure to sustain engagement could lead to the withdrawal of fighters from dialogue arrangements.
“All the people you see here may disappear into the forest for months if we are not invited again for discussions. You may only find small children left behind,” he stated.
He, however, expressed willingness to honour future invitations for dialogue, provided previous agreements are respected.
“If you release our people, even if you call us to Katsina, we will come. We are not afraid to go anywhere, but we fear unfulfilled promises,” he said.
