In a significant breakthrough for peace efforts in the North-West, several notorious terrorist commanders operating in Dan Musa Local Government Area of Katsina State have voluntarily surrendered their weapons and released 16 hostages as part of a government-backed arms disengagement initiative.
The surrender, which took place on June 14, 2025, saw key terror figures — Kamulu Buzaru, Manore, Nagwaggo, Lalbi, Alhaji Sani, Dogo Baidu, Dogo Nahalle, and Abdulkadir Black — commit to renouncing violence in exchange for peace and rehabilitation.
According to a statement by security analyst Zagazola Makama, the group handed over a cache of weapons and simultaneously released 16 abductees, consisting of seven women and nine children, some of whom had reportedly been in captivity for weeks.
The move is part of a wider disarmament effort coordinated by local authorities and community leaders aimed at ending years of violent banditry and kidnappings that have plagued rural Katsina.
The surrendered weapons have been taken into custody by security operatives, while the released hostages have been transferred to local government officials for immediate care and reintegration support.
In a further sign of goodwill, the repentant bandits pledged to release all remaining captives in their custody by June 15 and affirmed their readiness to support lasting peace in the region.
Local officials have welcomed the development, expressing cautious optimism while emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and support for victims of banditry.
Security sources say negotiations are ongoing with other terror cells in nearby areas as authorities push for a broader disarmament strategy to restore stability to the troubled zone.
