A confidential letter dated January 2, 2026, marked “SECRET,” was issued by the Katsina State Ministry of Justice and directed to the state’s Chief Judge.
Katsina State is currently embroiled in a fresh controversy following the emergence of an official communication revealing government efforts to facilitate the release of numerous suspected bandits who are presently undergoing criminal prosecution.
This classified letter, originating from the Ministry of Justice and addressed to the Chief Judge, outlines a request for the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) to intervene in securing the freedom of these detainees.
Signed by Abdur-Rahman Umar, Esq., the Director of Public Prosecutions, the document indicates that the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs submitted a roster of 48 individuals accused of various banditry offenses to the Ministry of Justice. The letter emphasizes that the release of these suspects is intended to “enable their discharge from custody as a prerequisite for the continuation of the peace accord signed between the affected Local Governments and the bandit groups.”
Further details reveal that while a minority of these suspects have been formally charged before the Federal High Court, the majority remain in detention awaiting trial at Magistrate Courts scattered across Katsina State.
Additionally, the Ministry disclosed a separate list comprising approximately 22 detainees currently facing charges in different High Courts within the state, who are also proposed for release under the same peace agreement.
The Ministry of Justice has called upon the Chief Judge to “take appropriate measures,” citing the authority granted to the Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee under Section 371(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Katsina State, 2021.
This revelation has ignited significant backlash from legal experts and civil society organizations, who argue that freeing individuals accused of grave offenses like banditry threatens the integrity of the justice system, denies victims their right to justice, and potentially encourages further criminal activity.
Opponents of the move stress that while peace negotiations are vital, releasing suspects already in custody-some actively on trial-raises profound constitutional, moral, and security dilemmas.
As of this report’s publication, the Katsina State Government has yet to clarify what legal frameworks or protections will govern these proposed releases, nor has it confirmed whether victims’ perspectives were incorporated into the peace negotiation process.
This incident intensifies the ongoing national discourse on the complexities and risks associated with negotiating with armed factions amid Nigeria’s escalating security challenges.
