Bandit Leader Frees Dozens of Captives in Katsina’s Bakori Area After Days in Custody

A feared militia commander operating in the forests between Bakori and Funtua in Katsina State has released a group of abducted residents previously seized during a string of attacks on farming communities in the region.

Local officials and community representatives confirmed that the freed individuals were returned earlier this week following behind-the-scenes engagements aimed at reducing hostilities in the area.

Those released include adult men and women who were taken during raids on rural settlements over recent days. Their return has been met with enormous relief among families and local leaders who have been pleading for intervention as abductions and forced disappearances continue to haunt the region.

Many of the victims were reported to have endured harsh conditions while in captivity, with minimal access to adequate food, sanitary facilities, or contact with family members.

Community elders who were involved in the informal negotiations with the bandit faction have characterized the development as a humanitarian gesture rather than a final resolution of the insecurity. They stressed that numerous individuals remain unaccounted for, as several kidnap cases have been reported in recent weeks and months across the Bakori–Funtua belt.

Locals say the persistent threat of raids has disrupted agricultural work, commercial movement, and social life in affected villages.

The Katsina State government has repeatedly condemned the activities of armed groups in the forests and has vowed to strengthen security deployment across at-risk local government areas.

However, many residents continue to argue that more proactive intelligence operations and community-driven policing are necessary to stem the cycle of abductions and episodic releases.

A resident from the area expressed gratitude for the safe return of those freed, while urging both federal and state authorities to intensify efforts to secure those still held hostage.

He also called for lasting reforms to dismantle the funding networks and supply lines that keep forest-based gangs operational.

As families welcome back their loved ones, the episode highlights the deeper challenges facing communities trapped between the threat of violence and the hope for eventual peace.

The call for decisive and sustainable action remains louder than ever among the people of Bakori.