Ex-Buhari Aide Condemns Killing of Vigilantes in Katsina

Bashir Ahmad, who served as a media aide to the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, reacted to the killing of 15 members of a vigilante group by individuals described as 'repentant bandits' in Katsina, Nigeria. The incident occurred on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, when the vigilante group was patrolling Falal Village in the Jibia Local Government Area.

They reportedly intercepted and killed three suspected bandits, which led to a reprisal attack by armed bandits who later stormed the community, resulting in the deaths of 15 people. Ahmad expressed his distress over the situation in a post on social media, arguing that the claims of bandits being 'repentant' serve as a strategy to evade justice.

He highlighted the troubling nature of this incident and raised serious concerns about the credibility of the government's pardon and reintegration efforts in Katsina, which have included granting amnesty to repentant bandits as part of peace initiatives aimed at addressing ongoing insecurity in the region.