Ex-Buhari Aide Warns: ‘Repentant’ Bandits Exploiting Amnesty to Evade Justice After Katsina Killings

Bashir Ahmed, former media aide to late President Muhammadu Buhari, has sounded the alarm over the use of “repentance” by bandits as a cover to escape prosecution in Nigeria. His warning comes after the killing of 15 members of a vigilante group in Katsina State by individuals reportedly labelled as repentant bandits.

The tragic incident occurred on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, in Falale village, Jibia Local Government Area. Vigilante operatives had intercepted and neutralised three suspected bandits during a routine patrol when armed assailants retaliated, killing 15 of the local security volunteers.

Reacting on X, Bashir Ahmed expressed deep concern about the practice of granting pardon to bandits. “I just read a disturbing report that repentant bandits killed 18 members of a vigilante group during an encounter in the Jibia Local Government of Katsina,” he wrote. “This reinforces the genuine concern that many who claim repentance do so only as an opportunity to evade justice.”

Katsina State, along with other North-West states, has previously offered amnesty programs to repentant bandits as part of peace negotiations amid escalating insecurity. Critics now warn that some of these programs may be exploited by criminal elements, undermining law enforcement and community security efforts.

The incident underscores the continuing security challenges in Nigeria’s North-West, where banditry and armed attacks on local vigilante groups remain a significant threat. Authorities have yet to issue an official response regarding the latest killings.