Notorious bandit leader Kachalla Ummaru has issued a stark warning to government military forces conducting operations against bandits in Katsina State.
Speaking during a peace dialogue held on Saturday in Matazu Local Government Area between community leaders, Islamic clerics, and bandit groups, Ummaru asserted that attempts to kill bandits could worsen insecurity.
He warned that killing 10 bandits might result in 20 more rising in retaliation, while killing 30 could trigger wider unrest spanning cities and rural villages.
Ummaru urged security operatives to exercise restraint and emphasized that the peace dialogue would only succeed if all parties approached it with genuine goodwill.
The meeting aims to foster peace and reconciliation amid renewed efforts to curb banditry in Katsina and neighboring states.
Community elders at the dialogue also called for commitment from both bandit groups and security agencies to ensure the safety and welfare of residents.