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Barely days after allegedly masterminding a deadly attack that left 32 worshippers dead at the Mantau Mosque in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina, bandit leader Babaro was seen on Sunday at a peace meeting in Faskari, Katsina.
The meeting, organised to address escalating clashes between armed herders and farming communities, drew the participation of traditional rulers, community leaders, security representatives, and leaders of herder groups.
A security expert, Zagazola Makama, disclosed on X that Babaro, who has long been on security watchlists, attended the dialogue despite being accused of leading the gruesome assault on the Mantau Mosque that left dozens injured.
The bandit leader, who has for years terrorised communities in Kankara and Malumfashi, has been linked to multiple kidnappings, extortion schemes, and deadly raids.
His ability to appear unchallenged at a high-level peace dialogue has raised serious questions about the state of security and governance in the region.
Peace meetings of this nature have become a recurring strategy in Katsina and other troubled states across Nigeria’s northwest, where banditry and farmer-herder conflicts have left thousands dead and displaced countless families in recent years.
While proponents of dialogue argue that negotiation is essential to ending cycles of violence, critics say granting violent actors legitimacy without justice perpetuates impunity and weakens public trust.
As of Sunday evening, there was no official statement from Katsina State authorities regarding Ado Alero, Isiya Kwashen Garwa, and Babaro’s presence at the meeting or whether they remain wanted in connection with the killings and kidnappings in the state.
However, for many in Katsina, the incident has deepened fears that justice for the victims of the massacre may never be served, even as leaders continue to pursue fragile peace efforts in the region.
