Thirty-seven residents abducted in Bakori LGA, Katsina State, were freed following days of covert negotiations between local authorities and armed groups. The handover was led by Hon. AbdulRahman Ahmad Kandarawa and the Bakori LGA chairman, who, according to images and eyewitness accounts, were seen in the company of armed men during the exchange.
Peace intermediary Isya Kwashen Garwa reportedly brokered the deal as communities in the area continue to endure frequent raids and mass abductions. Neither the state government nor security agencies have issued an official statement, raising concerns about transparency, legitimacy, and the implications of negotiating directly with terrorist groups.