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| Video shows tense negotiation between terrorists and a Katsina lawmaker before the release of kidnapped villagers. |
A circulating video shows the tense negotiation moment between armed terrorists and a Katsina lawmaker before the victims were freed.
By Wapcodehub9ja LIVE News Correspondent, Reporting Live from Batsari LGA, Katsina State — November 18, 2025 | 11:56 AM (WAT)
A disturbing video emerging from Katsina has captured the tense moment armed terrorists engaged in direct negotiation with a serving lawmaker before the release of 45 kidnap victims, raising fresh concerns over the deepening security crisis in Nigeria’s northwest.
The footage, which has circulated widely across social media platforms and private messaging channels, shows heavily armed men surrounding the negotiating team as the lawmaker appeals for the safe release of abducted villagers. Voices of fear and tension dominate the background as the terrorists table their conditions.
According to local sources familiar with the negotiation process, the discussions followed several days of back-and-forth communication between community leaders and the armed group. The victims — mostly women, children, and elderly residents — were reportedly abducted from farming settlements around Batsari and Safana LGAs.
Residents confirmed that the victims were eventually released in batches after what insiders described as a “fragile peace deal,” though the terms of the agreement remain unclear. The emotional reunions that followed were mixed with anxiety, as locals expressed fear that the temporary peace might not last.
Security analysts warn that such direct engagements between elected officials and armed non-state actors may embolden criminal networks who now see negotiation as leverage. They also worry that it further exposes the absence of a coordinated federal response to rural terrorism.
Community elders are calling for urgent government intervention, stressing that farming communities in Katsina cannot survive repeated cycles of abduction, negotiation, and temporary calm. They warned that with harvest season underway, residents are at heightened risk of fresh attacks.
As security discussions intensify, many Nigerians are asking critical questions about the state’s capacity to protect vulnerable communities without resorting to negotiation with armed groups.
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