Recent reports indicate that bandit leaders in Katsina State have expressed a willingness to negotiate with the government, following intensified military operations against them. Governor Dikko Umaru Radda acknowledged that these leaders are seeking a truce due to the ongoing onslaught by security operatives. 

However, the Katsina State Government maintains its policy against negotiating with bandits. Commissioner for Information and Culture, Bala Salisu, clarified that while the government is open to reintegrating individuals who voluntarily surrender and renounce violence, it will not initiate negotiations with bandits. 

In a recent development, a peace meeting was held in Batsari Local Government Area, involving military leadership, traditional authorities, and residents. During this meeting, bandit leaders surrendered weapons and released kidnapped victims as part of their commitment to peace. 

Despite these efforts, residents have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of such peace deals, citing the failure of similar agreements in the past. A resident from Batsari noted that previous deals have not yielded lasting results and questioned the significance of the weapons surrendered by the bandits. 

The situation remains complex, with the government balancing its stance against formal negotiations with bandits and the potential benefits of bandits voluntarily surrendering and renouncing violence.