Notorious bandit commander Isiya Kwashen Garwa has attributed Nigeria’s deepening insecurity to “oppression, injustice, and decades of mismanagement” by authorities at all levels.
Garwa made the remarks while handing over 37 kidnapped victims to Hon. AbdulRahman Ahmad Kandarawa, the lawmaker representing Bakori Constituency in Katsina State. The handover, which took place in the presence of the Chairman of Bakori Local Government, was captured in a video obtained by SaharaReporters.
Surrounded by armed fighters, Garwa said the violence ravaging the Northwest is driven by long-standing grievances and leadership failures, not merely criminal motives. Speaking in Hausa, he argued that military force alone cannot end the conflict, stressing the deep social ties between Hausa and Fulani communities.
He likened the crisis to spraying insecticide on Suya beans: “You may kill the insect, but you will also destroy the beans.” According to him, many of the perpetrators and victims of violence come from the same communities, particularly in Katsina and Zamfara.
Garwa also accused some security personnel of extrajudicial killings and raids on innocent families—actions he claimed often provoke retaliatory attacks by armed groups.
Calling for dialogue and forgiveness, he urged residents to abandon revenge and work toward lasting stability. “Most of those dying are innocent both your people and ours,” he said, praying for peace in Bakori, Faskari, Katsina, and other troubled areas.
