Notorious terrorist leaders operating in Katsina State have surrendered to the Nigerian Army and freed 16 kidnapped victims in a major step toward peace in the troubled region.
According to a statement released by the Nigerian Army on its official social media accounts, the surrender was part of a coordinated initiative under Operation Fagge Fasan Yamma.
The operation, which includes input from military officials and other stakeholders, led to the voluntary disarmament of several known terror figures in the Dan Musa Local Government Area.
The Army confirmed that those who gave themselves up include individuals identified as Kamulu Buzaru, Manore, Nagwaggo, Lalbi, Alhaji Sani, Dogo Baidu, Dogo Nahalle, and Abdulkadir Black.
These men are believed to be responsible for multiple criminal activities in the region. On June 14, 2025, they handed over a group of hostages — seven women and nine children — to authorities as part of the agreement.
The Army noted that the surrendered weapons, which include various firearms, have been collected and are now in secure custody.
A local source in Katsina, who chose to remain unnamed due to security concerns, said that the surrendered arms included two AK-47 rifles, one G3 rifle, a pumping machine gun, a PKT gun, and additional magazines. The peace deal was reportedly finalized during a gathering in Dan Musa LGA.
Among the freed captives was a woman said to be seven months pregnant. All released victims have since been returned to officials in their respective communities.
A video seen by The PUNCH shows Adamu Alero, a former bandit now working toward peace, addressing the group in Hausa. “All of you are my boys when it comes to this business, but I urge you to consider this an opportunity to denounce banditry because it is the only way to go,” he said, urging them to embrace peace and a new beginning.
Alero also appealed to the public to support the reintegration of former fighters, saying, “We should rather serve as a source of encouragement to them and let us forget all that happened in the past.”
Another former bandit, believed to be Kamilu, spoke on behalf of the group, sharing their willingness to abandon crime and live peacefully. He also promised that more captives still in their custody would be released by Sunday.
