Video of security agents mingle with bandits after meeting on the surface of Katsina on social media

A video that shows security personnel mingle freely with heavy armed bandits has appeared on social media.

In the recording, the bandits and security personnel, consisting of soldiers and police officers, had free enthusiasm when they joked and exchanging small talk after meetings with community leaders and security operators in the state of Katsina.

Ripples Nigeria has reported how a famous famous bandit shepherd maker, Ado Aleru, led another bandit to hold a “peaceful meeting” with community leaders and security personnel, including prominent military officers in the local government and Moses in the state last Saturday.

The video, which was recorded after the meeting, showed the bandits and security officers exchanged spleading and laughing seriously.

This development is expected to get a reaction from the Nigerians who will question why security operations play with bandits who attend meetings with their weapons.

But the counter-signs and security experts in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, have urged the Nigerians not to jump to the rush of conclusions on the video.

In a post in his X grip on Tuesday, Makama said the video of troops with bandits should not be misinterpreted because the meeting was part of a non-cinetic operation aimed at restoring peace and stability in the northwest.

He wrote: “A video that is currently making a round on social media, illustrates the alleged bandits with Nigerian troops in the state of Katsina, has been misinterpreted by many people as a sign of collusion or conspiracy.”

“The incident, in fact, is a manifestation of the ongoing non-cinetic operation aimed at restoring peace and stability in the northwestern region.

“The people displayed in the video are not allied with the soldiers, but instead are suspects who voluntarily choose to surrender their weapons in return for amnesty and reintegration to their community.

“This is the third example in two months in which armed groups have surrendered their weapons and promised to leave their crime, following the appeal by the stakeholders of the community and security agents.

“Around 15:00 on June 14, 2025, several armed gang kingpins in the local government area and, including Kamulu Buzaru, Manore, Nagwaggo, Lalbi, Alhaji Sani, Dogo Baidu Formation, Dogo Nahalle, and Abdulkadir Black, voluntarily surrend their weapons.

“Weapons that surrendered including PKMG, two AK47 rifles, G3 rifles, and pumping weapons. In addition, 16 kidnapping victims, seven women and nine children, were released safely by the suspects, with an appointment to release all the remaining prisoners the next day.

“The general public must investigate and avoid the dissemination of wrong information. The incident is a significant step towards securing peace in the state of Katsina and strengthening the safety of the community.”

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