Bandit Leader Warns Nigerian Army: ‘Kill 10 of Us, 20 More Will Rise’
A notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Ummaru, has issued a stark warning to the Nigerian Army and government, cautioning that relying solely on force to end banditry will only worsen the crisis.
Speaking during peace talks with community leaders and some bandit groups in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State over the weekend, Ummaru insisted that the killing of bandits fuels retaliation and further recruitment into their ranks.
In a viral video shared on Facebook by Observers Times, the gang leader was heard addressing his followers in Hausa. He declared: “If today you kill 10 bandits, tomorrow you’ll see 20. You kill 20, another 30 will rise both in our bushes and villages.”
He went on to accuse the Nigerian government of neglecting ordinary citizens, claiming that officials are more concerned with revenue than the safety of the people. Ummaru also accused locals of complicity, saying residents often report their movements to security agencies, which, according to him, undermines peace efforts.
The bandit leader further alleged that military reports of neutralizing gunmen are exaggerated for profit. “Even when they come to where we are, they don’t kill even a bird, but you’ll hear in the news that 10 bandits have been killed and they’ll be paid,” he said.
Expressing doubt about the sincerity of the dialogue process, Ummaru warned that unless security operatives are ordered to back off, peace talks with communities may prove pointless.
