The Justice and Security Advisory Committee has said no bandit has been released by any court in Katsina State as releasing them would jeopardise security gains.
The State Chief Judge, Justice Musa Danladi, gave the confirmation while speaking to a group of selected journalists in Katsina on Thursday.
Justice Danladi said contrary to reports, the number of bandits wanted to be released were 48 not 70, but none has been released following the decision of the committee.
21st Century Chronicle gathered that the committee is made of the chief judge, commissioner of police, state director of the State Security Services , state Grand Khadi, State Attorney General, Nigerian Bar Association, Civil Society Organisations and others.
Recall that 21st Century Chronicle reported in January how the state internal security commissioner, Nasir Muazu Danmusa justified the release of the bandits and said several instances of prisoner swaps were recorded in Nigeria and beyond as parts of efforts to attain peace.
The commissioner noted that during the peace meetings between bandits and local authorities, the bandits agreed to release all captives in their hideouts, a promise he said they’ve redeemed.
But in his address to the journalists, the chief judge said their committee advised the state government from facilitating the release of the bandits.
The chief judge said when bandits’ leaders found out that none of their relatives was released as requested, they started attacking some communities which forced residents to pressurised the government.
“The government said we’re not going to do that because we’ve due process. We’ve a committee under the administration of criminal justice that involves all.
“The Ministry of Justice is the adviser to the government but this is a peculiar situation. The ministry carries everyone along and the police welcomed this (the decision not to release anyone) because they felt their their men would be at risk if you release everybody.
“The court also felt that we don’t feel safe. You’ve convicted somebody and then he is released, how can you feel safe,?” Justice Musa Danladi explained.
