A Facebook post by Hausawa claimed that many people suspected of being bandits emerged from the bush to attend the coronation of Alhaji Sani Tukur as the new Sarkin Ruman Katsina and Uban Kasa in Batsari Local Government Area of Katsina State. The post, which has garnered 165 reactions, 67 comments, and 16 shares, sparked mixed reactions among users, with some questioning its authenticity and others believing it.
An investigation by DUBAWA, however, revealed that the claim was false. The Katsina Times reported that some of the people in the photos were repentant bandits who attended the coronation ceremony to show their support for the new traditional ruler and commitment to peace in Batsari. The report stated that the repentant bandits, led by Tukur and Bala Musa, presented gifts to the new monarch.
A video of the coronation ceremony, which was attended by many people, including repentant bandits and former leaders of armed groups, was broadcast live on August 29, 2026. The Katsina Times reported that the event was a significant step towards peace and reconciliation in Batsari, which has experienced years of insecurity and bandit attacks.
The Chairman of the Batsari Local Government Council's Committee on Peace and Reconciliation, Mamman Mannir Murtala, described the attendance of repentant bandits at the ceremony as a major breakthrough in efforts to end years of banditry in the area. He expressed optimism that the development would pave the way for lasting peace in Batsari.
Other media outlets, including Blueprint Hausa, reported on the ceremony, confirming that many repentant bandits attended and reaffirmed their commitment to peace in the area. DUBAWA also spoke to Zaharaddeen Ishaq, a Katsina Times journalist who covered the event and took photos, who corroborated the report.
Ishaq stated that the people in the photos were indeed repentant bandits who had emerged from the bush to attend the coronation ceremony and show their support for the new traditional ruler. He added that their presence was a positive development, demonstrating their commitment to peace and reconciliation in Batsari.
In conclusion, the claim that many alleged bandits attended the coronation ceremony is false. The evidence shows that it was repentant bandits who attended the event to demonstrate their commitment to peace and reconciliation in Batsari, Katsina State.
Key points
- The claim that many alleged bandits attended the coronation of a traditional ruler in Katsina, Nigeria, is false.
- Repentant bandits, not active bandits, attended the coronation ceremony to show their support for the new traditional ruler and commitment to peace.
- The attendance of repentant bandits at the ceremony is a significant step towards peace and reconciliation in Batsari, Katsina State.
