A notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Ummaru, has issued a defiant warning to security forces, claiming that ongoing military operations against armed groups will only worsen insecurity in Nigeria’s troubled North-West.
Speaking on Saturday during a peace dialogue between bandit groups and community leaders in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State, Ummaru declared that any attempt to eliminate members of his faction would be met with greater resistance.
“If you kill 10 of us, 20 will rise. Kill 30, and you will see unrest spread to towns, villages and cities,” Ummaru said, urging government forces to reconsider their approach.
The meeting was part of renewed reconciliation efforts aimed at curbing the cycle of violence in Katsina and neighbouring states, where bandit attacks, kidnappings, and cattle rustling have displaced thousands of residents in recent years.
Community elders present at the dialogue appealed to both the bandit groups and security agencies to embrace peace in good faith, stressing that sustainable stability could only be achieved through dialogue and genuine commitment from all sides.
Security analysts, however, have raised concerns that such statements underscore the emboldened posture of criminal groups, who continue to defy government authority despite intensified military operations.
The Federal Government has repeatedly insisted that no part of Nigeria would be surrendered to bandits, while the military continues to carry out air and ground offensives in the North-West region.
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