After many months of incessant killings, kidnappings, displacement, and fear, a fragile sense of hope is beginning to take root in parts of the violence-prone areas of Katsina State, as affected communities and suspected bandits have signed a peace agreement aimed at ending the persistent unrest that has plagued the region.
The landmark accord, reached after tense negotiations, signals a renewed attempt to restore stability and mutual trust between residents and the bandits who once held their villages hostage.
The agreement, brokered under strict monitoring, saw both parties pledge to cease hostilities, respect one another’s rights, and uphold the sanctity of life and property.
The peace pact, signed yesterday at Kakumi Village in Bakori Local Government Area under the Operation Safe Corridor initiative, brought together community leaders, representatives of armed groups, and traditional rulers.
Representatives from Bakori, Kafur, Malumfashi, Kankara, and Funtua Local Government Areas, all heavily affected by banditry, were in attendance.
Those present included traditional rulers, local government chairmen, and leaders from both the affected communities and the bandit camps.
Among the community representatives were Abdurrahman Kandarawa (Bakori), Abubakar Barde (Kafur), Bature Kanjiba (Malumfashi), Audu Goya (Funtua), and Kasimu Dantsoho (Kankara).
Traditional leaders in attendance included Ado Bello (District Head of Bakori), Tsiga Jarman Katsina, Galadiman Katsina Abdullahi Mahuta (Malumfashi), Danejen Katsina Abdulkadir (Kafur), and Sarkin Maskan Katsina (Funtua).
Representing the bandit factions were notable figures such as Ado Aleru of Yankuzo in Zamfara State, Isiya Garwa of Guga Ward, Babaro of Gidan Gamji, and Iliya Zango Sabau, all feared names in the region’s long history of violence.
“We have suffered enough. It is time to rebuild our communities and live without fear,” one community representative reportedly said after the meeting.
A bandit leader was also quoted as saying they were “ready to embrace peace if the promises made to them were honoured.”
The closed-door session, which lasted over three hours, ended peacefully with an agreement that emphasized the restoration of law and order, cessation of attacks, and mutual cooperation.
Both sides signed the pact as a symbol of their commitment to rebuilding trust and ensuring lasting peace in the Funtua zone.
