Human rights lawyer, Bulama Bukarti, has warned that ongoing peace talks between communities in Katsina State and armed bandit groups are turning into platforms for criminals to flaunt power and instill fear.
His remarks follow recent meetings in Jibia and Batsari Local Government Areas, where bandits appeared in public carrying heavy weapons. Videos and photos from the gatherings showed the gunmen openly displaying rifles and other dangerous arms during discussions with locals.
Speaking to DAILY POST, Bukarti described the scenes as “intimidation in its purest form.”
“Bandits are coming out with heavy and dangerous weapons during peace talks, tying them to their bodies, giving speeches, and allowing themselves to be recorded on video. They do this deliberately to frighten people. That is exactly what terrorism is — creating fear to achieve political, religious, or ethnic goals,” he said.
The lawyer likened the spectacle to military parades staged to send a message of power. “When you see them stepping out with heavy weapons as if they are going to a world war, it is a calculated attempt to scare the public and show the Nigerian government that nothing can be done to them,” he added.
Bukarti further stressed that both the possession of such arms and the peace meetings themselves are illegal under Nigerian law.
“This is completely forbidden. No one is allowed to own such weapons, let alone display them. Even these peace dialogues with terrorists are unlawful because there is no legal framework that allows it,” he stated.
In contrast, Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, known for engaging with armed groups, has urged security agencies not to disrupt such talks, warning that interference could escalate tensions.
But Bukarti strongly disagreed, insisting that the so-called peace efforts amount to surrender.
“The public and the government must understand that these meetings are not peace. They are submission. And the more terrorists are allowed to show off their weapons, the weaker the state looks in the eyes of citizens,” he warned.
He urged the government to take charge of any negotiations, emphasizing the need for disarmament and rehabilitation.
“If the government feels it cannot fully protect communities from these attacks, then it should at least lead the talks, set clear conditions, and make sure the criminals are disarmed and rehabilitated. Leaving citizens to negotiate on their own only strengthens the bandits,” Bukarti said.
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