The lawmaker representing Bakori constituency in the Katsina State House of Assembly, Abdurrahman Kandarawa, on Friday urged the Federal Government to stop arresting peaceful bandits.
Kandarawa was seen in a viral video speaking alongside a wanted bandit commander, Isiya Kwashen Garwa and Abubakar Barde, Chairman of Bakori LGA.
The footage also showed the lawmaker opening his speech with warm praise for Barde and hailing Garwa as the “commander of peace”.
He was speaking after securing the release of 37 abducted residents after a “peace deal” with the bandits.
The lawmaker who spoke in Hausa said, “Executive chairman of Bakori LGA, Hon. Abubakar Barde, alongside people, Faskari’s LGA secretary, the hosts Fulani, and the ‘commander of peace’, Sheikh Isiya, with his Fulani brother, who are all here present. Peace be upon you all.
“Today (November 28), we are gathered here again in Farin Dutse, Faskari LGA, and we are here because of the agreement we made before. They (bandits) said they will give us the remaining people they kidnapped from Bakori LGA.
“We thank God, the leadership of the Fulani under the leadership of Alhaji Adamu Alieru, the commander of peace Isiya, and all the Fulanis for keeping their promises.
“It shows how much of a promise keeper you are, after we agreed and made promises between us. We are going home with 37 people today: 17 women, two children, and 18 men. That makes it 37.
“From now on, no single individual from Bakori LGA is with the bandits. They are all freed.
“I will use this opportunity to call on both people and the government. It’s not only the government’s responsibility; we as citizens can do our part for peace to reign.
“We now have a committee within us. I received a call today, and I was told that a motorcycle was stolen. We agreed no kidnapping, no paying ransom, and we have to keep praying and playing our parts for peace to reign.”
Kandarawa said the state government had struck a deal with the bandits with an assurance of peace, but with a condition.
The lawmaker said, “If the Fulani do something wrong, they can be arrested and punished, but they (the government) should not be arresting them like they normally do, seeing them in markets or somewhere and arresting them.
“Our Fulani brothers have their needs as well, like hospitals, good water, etc.”
Kandarawa asked the government to look into the bandits’ needs.
Watch the video below:
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