Banditry: 70-year-old bandit kingpin, Sani Geza hails peace deal [Video]

A 70-year-old bandit kingpin, Sani Geza, has expressed excitement over a peace agreement reached between community leaders and armed groups in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The incident was made known on Monday in a post on X by counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama.

Geza spoke on Sunday after the dialogue session, describing the peace deal as a long-awaited opportunity for his group to embrace normal life.

“This is what we have been seeking for a very long time. Today, God has made the dream come true. Our hope is that this peace will be sustained and not wasted,” he said.

According to Makama, Geza, regarded as one of the oldest leaders of armed groups in the state, noted that many of his followers had also yearned for reconciliation and relief from years of conflict.

Local officials at the meeting said the agreement was part of ongoing initiatives to restore peace across troubled parts of Katsina State through dialogue, confidence-building and community participation.

The Katsina Government and security agencies have in recent months intensified efforts to curb banditry and kidnapping, combining military operations with peace-building engagements in affected areas.