Renting Peace in the Norht: Why new deals with killers in Katsina may fail again

By Ogalah Ibrahim

The Sunday marketplace successful Jibia, a borderline municipality successful Nigeria’s Katsina State, has roared backmost to life. Motorbikes clatter nether dense loads, traders haggle implicit sacks of millet, and children weave betwixt stalls successful a country of renewed normalcy.

For years, this marketplace was silent. Bandit gangs, mostly equipped Fulani men who erstwhile roamed the surrounding forests, had shattered the fragile coexistence betwixt Hausa farmers and Fulani pastoralists. Villagers were robbed, abducted, oregon killed. Farmers abandoned their fields, traders shunned the roads, and markets stood deserted.

Now, nomadic Fulani mingle again with Hausa farmers, and merchants from the neighbouring Niger Republic person returned. Even the bandits themselves, who erstwhile terrorised the town, present openly patronise the market, selling cattle and grain.

The reason, whispered successful each corner, is the same: a woody has been struck with the killers.

Sitting With the Enemy

In Jibia, the turning constituent came successful February 2025, erstwhile elders nether the banner of the Jibia People’s Forum, gathered successful Kwari village. Desperation had forced their hand. With unit unbearable, traders’ representatives, concern chiefs and respected clerics sat face-to-face with bandit leaders.

“We had nary choice,” 1 elder told this reporter. “Either we talk, oregon we hide much of our children.”

The talks produced a ceasefire of sorts. Kidnappings and killings fell sharply. “Since January 2025, we person not received a study of anyone abducted oregon killed,” said Abdullahi Lawal, spokesperson for Jibia Local Government, crediting the dialog for easing tensions.

“You volition spot them with their guns protecting america successful the forest,” Malam Abubakar Mohammed of Magama colony told journalists. The irony stung: the aforesaid men who erstwhile robbed villagers present posed arsenic their protectors.

A trader stacking his goods enactment it much bluntly: “We are escaped to merchantability today. But who knows! if they travel back, we volition wage again with our lives and our hard-earned resources.”

The fragility of this statement was underlined again connected Sunday, September 14, 2025, erstwhile a caller circular of negotiations was staged successful Faskari Local Government Area — 1 of Katsina’s bloodiest frontlines.

At Hayin Gada community, notorious warlords including Adamu Alero, Babaro, and Kwashé Garwa, arrived arsenic guests of honour. Videos circulating connected section media showed Garwa with ammunition strapped astir his waist railing against the “stereotyping” of Fulani herders arsenic criminals.

“In Nigeria, whenever determination is simply a discussion, they telephone Fulani herders bandits and terrorists. But archer me, which people successful the satellite does not person criminals among them?” helium asked successful Hausa, earning murmurs of support from immoderate of those present.

The absurdity was plain: lone fewer weeks aft Babaro was accused of starring the Mantau mosque massacre successful Malumfashi, wherever much than 30 worshippers were changeable dormant during dawn prayers — helium and different wanted kingpins were being welcomed arsenic bid partners.

Even much jarring, the Faskari dialog unfolded connected the aforesaid time that bandit attacks struck parts of Katsina and Zamfara, sidesplitting dozens. For galore residents, the timing reinforced a bitter suspicion: negotiations are little a way to bid than a signifier performance, wherever killers alternate betwixt warfare crimes and bid pledges, depending connected what brings them leverage.

The Theatre of Peace

This uneasy bargain captures the paradox of bid successful northwest Nigeria. Communities regain their markets, farms and schools — but astatine the mercy of the precise gangs that displaced them.

Governors, hopeless for speedy wins, person embraced specified deals. Katsina’s governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, initially sceptical, has since admitted his medication is negotiating successful respective frontline councils.

“With each our strength, we fought the bandits,” Radda said earlier this month, portion unveiling an 18-month “Conflict Prevention, Crisis Response and Resilience” programme. “Now they privation a bid deal. We volition negotiate, but it indispensable beryllium a sincere one.”

The politician pointed to “locally made assemblage initiatives” that had eased crises. But the rhetoric points to a acquainted script: bid arsenic theatre, not transformation.

Civil nine leaders successful Katsina reason that specified negotiations are les...