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There are indications that the peace deals entered into with armed groups terrorising several local government areas in Katsina State have not achieved the desired goal of preventing attacks on communities. At the last count, 18 out of the 34 local government areas in the state have struck peace deals with bandits.
Weekend Trust observed that while some of the local government areas under the peace deal experience relative peace, others still come under attacks despite opening their doors to the bandits through negotiations.
It was also observed that while some local governments get some respite due to the agreements, the local government areas yet to enter such have become targets. Furthermore, states like Kano bordering Katsina are not spared as the bandits following the peace deals now extend their tentacles to such areas, making it a never ending cirle.
Our correspondents report that several communities which the peace deals cover have witnessed an influx of the bandits who come in and go out of the towns and villages at will.
No peace deal without disarming bandits — Bashir Kurfi
Victims must be compensated before any deal — Major Shinko
While state governments have been responsible for such negotiations in the past, local government authorities have taken the initiative in the current dispensation in Katsina.
Our correspondent reports that the LGAs that have entered into peace deals with the criminals are; Kankara, Kafur, Malumfashi, Funtua, Batagarawa, Charanchi, Sabuwa, Dandume, Faskari, Matazu, Musawa, Safana, Kurfi, Dutsinma, Jibia, Batsari, Danmusa, and Bakori, while it was gathered that local governments like Kankia, Kusada and Ingawa are in the process of striking deals with bandits. A source told Weekend Trust that the meeting was scheduled to hold earlier on the 29th October, 2025, but was suspended and rescheduled to hold at a later date.
Weekend Trust gathered that despite the peace deals, there have been bandits’ attacks in Danjanku in Musawa LGA, Na’alma in Malumfashi LGA and in Bakori LGA, all in October and this month alone. Also, between October and November, there have been four major attacks in Kusada and Kankia LGAs, both areas not under peace deals.
One of the leaders of the Katsina Elders Forum, Bashir Kurfi, faulted the peace deals, saying a situation where the bandits are allowed to dictate the terms does not augur well for the security of the communities.
He said, “When they come for this meeting of the peace deal, the bandits dictate where the meeting should be held, who should come, and they come with their arms. In the case of our local government in Kurfi, I know.”
He narrated a recent experience where the bandits directed that the peace deal “should be held in one village about five kilometres out of the main town at 9am but did not turn up for the meeting until 3 pm.”
Even as the local government authorities have been negotiating with the bandits to secure peace in their domains, the state governor, Umar Dikko Radda, has consistently stated that he is not going to enter into any peace deal with such groups.
“My stance as a governor is that I won’t negotiate with bandits at the point of weakness, I will not start begging bandits to come and negotiate with me,” the governor stated in a recent media interview.
But people have questioned the validity of that claim, saying that the local governments could not have entered into the peace deals without his consent. More so, the local government from which the governor hails, Charanchi, recently entered into an agreement with the bandits.
Efforts to get comments from the state government on the issue proved abortive as contacted, the Special Adviser to Governor Dikko Umar Radda on Community and Security Watch Corps, Yusuf İbrahim Safana, promised to respond later, but was yet to do so at press time.
Efforts made last night to get official response from the Defence Headquarters on the matter proved abortive. Calls to the Director, Defence Information, Samaila Uba, a Brigadier-General, went unanswered. Similarly, the spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Appolonia Anele, a Lieutenant-Colonel did not answer calls put through to her.
The duo were yet to reply to separate text messages sent to them as at when filing this report last night.
But the Chief of Air Staff, Sunday Aneke, insisted that his force will hunt down the bandits terrorising Katsina and other states in the North West region of the country.
Aneke, an Air Marshal, stated this during his operational visit to the Air Component of Operation FANSAN YAMMA Sector 2/213 Forward Operating Base in Katsina.
The senior military officer insisted that there will be no hiding place for bandits, terrorists and other criminals wreaking havoc in different parts of the country.
“We cannot relent for a moment. The nation is counting on us to restore peace and reclaim every inch of territory challenged by insurgents and criminals.
“We will not rest until every threat to our sovereignty is neutralised. Wherever they hide, whether in forests, valleys, or remote villages, our forces will find them, and we will strike with precision”, he said.
A source in one of the villages that have come under attacks in Kurfi LGA said those living in communities yet to sign the deal have been under constant attacks and harassment by armed groups while the bandits withdraw to communities under peace deals to enjoy their loot.
Residents of those communities, however, said they had to accept the peace deals as it appeared the only way through which they could get some respite to live their normal lives.
In Kankara Local Government Area, which was once an epicentre of the crisis, some residents said some communities in the area are enjoying partial peace arising from the Kakumi peace pact entered into with bandits some weeks ago.
Badamasi Haruna, a resident of Santar Kaku, one of the devastated communities in Kankara, acknowledged some relief in the area, but added that attacks still occur in some parts of the local government.
He said for about 20 to 25 days, the communities experienced cease fire, adding that no matter how fragile the peace appears to be, it is better than living in perpetual fear.
He said, “Look, before the peace deal, our local communities were attacked almost on a daily basis subjecting us to untold hardship. Those days, we couldn’t sleep; our loved ones were killed and several others were displaced. The government should begin reconstruction process without further delay.”
In Malumfashi and Bakorı local government areas, residents are complaining about renewed attacks despite the Kakumi peace accord. They appealed to the relevant authorities to fulfil the promises they made to the bandits.
A youth leader in Malumfashi, Na’alma Alhassan Musa, said despite the peace deal there are still pockets of attacks in the area.
A prominent member of Guga community in Bakori Local Government Area, Mahdi Danbinta, welcomed the peace deal, but called for a uniform agreement that would cover the 34 local government areas of the state.
Not so for a security analyst, Abubakar Ibrahim, who said those championing the peace deals, should know that the gains could only be temporary. He said it is better the government declares war against the bandits until they are defeated. “I want to state categorically that the current peace deal, no matter how long it takes, will fail,” he stated.
The agreements
Weekend Trust gathered that the agreements normally struck at the peace deal gatherings from the communities include the bandits suspending any form of attack on civilian populations, unconditional release of all captives and providing security to communities under peace deals from bandits from neighbouring bandits.
On the other hand, the bandits normally demand halting of attacks of any sorts from security agencies including soldiers, police, personnel of the Community Watch (State security architecture) and vigilante groups. They also demand unhindered access into the community including markets, hospitals, schools and other social amenities. Furthermore, they request more social amenities like schools, hospitals and earth dams to be constructed for them in their villages by the governments.
Many residents of the state have, however, wondered why the bandits go back to the bushes with their arm and still carry out attacks in some areas despite entering into peace agreements.
Some residents told Weekend Trust that one of the reasons the violence has continued is because the bandits operating in Katsina and its neighbouring states are not under a single unified command.
It was gathered that they are fragmented into numerous groups under different leaders with varying interests, which, sometime result in internal rivalries with some of the groups operating in separate forested areas and occasionally forging alliances that mutate from time to time.
Analysts say this implies that a peace pact reached with one group is not automatically binding on others.
Our correspondent learnt that some of the attacks reported after peace meetings — such as the recent one at Danjanku and Gandun Sarki, a Fulani settlement in Bakorı and Malumfashi local governments, where two people including a police officer were killed, were carried out by other factions that were not part of the peace process, or those that were opposed to it.
A source familiar with the terrain said when one cluster of bandits enters into a truce with a particular local government, others who are still hostile may cross into nearby communities that are yet to reach such agreements, rustling animals and kidnaping people.
He said the situation becomes even more volatile when rival groups use the cover of “peace” to move freely and launch surprise attacks elsewhere.
“Thus, the violence that continues in some locations should not be mistaken for betrayal of the peace accord by those who signed it —rather as evidence of the fragmented nature of the bandit networks,” he said.
Our correspondent learnt that even bandits who have participated in the peace process face danger from their own kind in some instances.
“There are factions that openly threaten those who accept dialogue, branding them as ‘traitors”, he added.
He said this explains why most of the bandits involved in peace negotiations cannot easily surrender their weapons as laying down their arms could make them targets — not only from security forces, but also from rival factions opposed to the reconciliation.
He added that communities that sign peace agreements are often left exposed if other hostile groups refuse to comply. And the repentant bandits, trapped between survival and surrender, remain in hiding, unable to fully reintegrate.
‘Still struggling to pick our pieces’
Despite the failings in the peace agreements, residents say they prefer it to nothing as many villages have been destroyed, livelihoods lost, and families displaced.
The farmers who once harvested hundreds of bags of grain now depend on charity. Weekend Trust gathered that elderly men in their 80s and 90s have been driven from their homes. Women have been widowed, violated and impoverished.
Indeed, in most areas where peace pacts have been reached such as Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Danmusa, Bakori, Funtua, Malumfashi, Kafur and Ƙanƙara — the frequency of attacks has declined, according to reports.
Farmers have gradually started returning to their fields, schools have reopened, and rural markets are reviving, it was gathered.
A resident, Masa’udu Sa’idu Kankara said the peace deal was not their first choice, but that they are simply choosing the available path to survival.
“When you’ve lost everything and the attacks never end, peace even if fragile — becomes the only option left,” he said.
Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Katsina State, Abdulrahman Abdullahi, lamented that no matter what anybody says about the peace deal, it was the last option.
He maintained that, “All available avenues to end the crisis by the communities, local authorities and the state government have been followed exhaustively without success. What was left was for the federal security agencies to declare war on the bandits and that was not forthcoming; what do you expect? Negotiations must be allowed to hold no matter how fragile it might be”.
“They say non-kinetic approach must be adopted and followed in dealing with the hoodlums, despite the fact that the attacks continue to escalate and don’t forget that Governor Radda led a powerful delegation to the Presidency, where they briefed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu about the crisis, yet nothing much came out of it. What do you expect?” he queried.
The resurgence of attacks in recent weeks, especially in the northern and southern parts of Katsina State, points at loopholes in the process. Some have faulted the process where the bandits are allowed to come to the negotiating table with their arms.
The bandits, according to sources are also complaining about the local governments not honouring the terms of agreements reached.
Weekend Trust learnt that part of the agreement reached was the release of captives. They claim to have fulfilled their own part, but lamented that the local authorities remain defiant in releasing their members serving various jail terms or under the custody of various security agencies.
On the other side, our correspondent was told that the communities and authorities are asking for total cease fire which seems not forthcoming.
A resident of Batsari Local Government Area, Hassan Dogon Faci, hailed the commitment and resilience of the local authorities in sustaining the peace deals.
He said, “I believe that the current peace we’re enjoying is largely due to the political will exhibited by all the sides. The repentant bandits have stuck to the agreement and also the local authorities are working round the clock to sustain the peace deal with all honesty which I believe is the best.”
In the same vein, Auwali Mai shayi Safana, opined that in Safana LG, the peace is real and working, attributing it to the action taken by the local authorities by reintegrating the repentant bandits into the society and saddling them with the responsibility of maintaining law and order in their respective communities.
He noted that “Ardos were appointed amongst the Fulani on request. The Ardos are respected elderly people across the Fulani settlements and their responsibility is to coordinate, ensure peaceful coexistence among them and report to the traditional and political authorities any breach of peace for necessary action.”
“You cannot allow people without legitimate leadership and expect peace.”
A traditional ruler, who does not want to be named, said it would be better if the state government owned the deal, saying in such a situation, it will be easier for monitoring and implementation.
A security expert, Major Ibrahim Yahaya Shinkon (rtd) said the priority of the government should be on victims not the bandits.
“One thing has to be done first, and that is for the government to take care of the victims,” he said.
Our correspondent reports that the Katsina State government has been supporting these peace efforts with dialogue and development-oriented interventions through its State Peace and Security Strategy. Weekend Trust learnt that the administration has also backed community-based peace talks aimed at addressing the situation.
Past efforts
No less than eight states have at various times since 2017 entered into peace deals with groups attacking communities in northern Nigeria.
They include Katsina, Kaduna, Benue, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi through various administrations spanning eight years.
While some have worked, the security situation in many of the affected communities relapsed at various times.
In our earlier reports, Weekend Trust recalled that two peace deals were separately signed by the Katsina State government and the bandits on January 15, 2017 that lasted for two years while the second took place between 4th and 9th of September, 2019.
The current administration has, however, taken a back bench approach to the peace deals, allowing the local government authorities to take the initiative.
Former governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, had in 2020, said the peace accord his administration signed with bandits troubling the state had collapsed.
He said his administration would no longer engage in any negotiation or peace talk with bandits as they did not honour the agreement they signed.
The governor said the bandits had betrayed the state as they could not honour the agreement.
Infiltration to other states
The current experience has not inspired hope as it is affecting other areas not known for such experiences.
Rather than abate, the spate of the banditry is extending to more local governments like Dutsinma, Kurfi, Batagarawa, Kaita, Kafur and Malumfashi.
Doguwar Dorawa, Layin ‘Yannehu, Ganjar, Alhazawa, and Gidan Nagari, all of Bakori LGA have recently being attacked despite having deals with bandits. Danjanku community in Musawa has also come under attack.
Na’alma community of Malumfashi LGA also got attacked last week at dawn and some members of the community were kidnapped. Also, since the beginning of the peace deals, communities in Kankia, and Kusada LGs have experienced a surge in bandits’ attacks. These attacks have been largely linked to the peace deals in neighboring LGAs according to experts.
Recently Tittike, Rinji communities in Boko and Kaikai ward of Kusada LGA were attacked. Tafashiya, Kwandawa, Rumawa communities in Tafashiya, Gachi and Fakuwa wards of Kankia were also attacked recently.
There has also been recorded violence in other states bordering Katsina due to the peace deals.
Experts say since the bandits have found a haven in certain communities without fear of being apprehended, they decided to extend their attacks to areas hitherto living in relative peace.
Faruruwa community of Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State that borders Musawa LGA of Katsina State was recently attacked by bandits. Though, they met resistance from the security agencies, people were killed while many others have fled the communities for fear of attacks.
Zamfara State has also experienced a sustained bandits presence and attacks due to peace deals in Jibia, Danmusa, Kankara and Faskari LGAs of Katsina State.
Experts say to consolidate the gains of the peace process, the government and security agencies must continue to engage all factions of the bandits not just those who have already accepted dialogue. They added that confidence-building efforts must be expanded, and intelligence gathering strengthened to isolate criminal elements still committed to violence.
They added that at the same time, the government must show firmness, saying peace should never become an excuse for impunity.
