A notorious figure among local bandits has publicly confessed that while his followers haven’t spent time in a classroom, they are highly proficient with firearms, especially AK-47 rifles.
This revelation surfaced in a social media update on Monday by security expert Zagazola Makama, who shared footage of the armed chieftain speaking to a large group within the Dutsenma Local Government Area of Katsina State.
In the clip, the leader is seen clutching a rifle and flanked by his men, speaking with an air of boldness as the onlookers shouted their support.
“We did not go to school and we are not educated, but even without schooling, we know how to operate an AK-47,” he said.
He then drew a sharp contrast between his lifestyle and that of the scholarly; “While you gather books on your shelves, we have gathered AK-47 rifles and the weapons are our education,” he declared, hoisting his gun in the air to a wave of loud applause.
The kingpin also took the opportunity to blame government officials for failing to uphold the terms of past peace talks.
“If we make promises to you, we try to fulfil them. We expect you to do the same. This is one of our major concerns,” he said.
He asserted that a significant number of his associates are currently behind bars in various regions, such as Katsina, Kano, and Abuja, claiming they remain locked up despite prior deals.
“There is no state without our people in detention. Many of our men and women have been detained, but when we ask for their release, nothing happens,” he added.
Furthermore, the bandit chief claimed that while government agents frequently seek them out for negotiations, they rarely follow through on what was decided.
“Your leaders come to meet us and we agree on certain issues, but once they leave, they go back and sit comfortably in air conditions without fulfilling those promises,” he said, a comment that sparked laughter among the crowd.
He issued a stern caution that his organization might stop participating in these dialogues if the pattern persists.
“All the people you see here may disappear into the forest for months if we are not invited again for discussions. You may only find small children left behind,” he stated.
Even with the threats, the leader mentioned they are still willing to negotiate in the future, provided that earlier commitments are finally honored.
“If you release our people, even if you call us to Katsina, we will come. We are not afraid to go anywhere, but we fear unfulfilled promises,” he said.