Communities in Katsina State are turning to informal peace deals with armed groups as relentless bandit attacks continue to claim lives, destroy villages, and leave thousands grieving.
While these backdoor truces offer temporary relief from attacks, they raise concerns about justice for victims and the future of law enforcement in the region.
On November 24, 2024, a 31-year-old trader, Musa Salihu (not his real name), was killed when bandits ambushed vehicles along the Magama–Jibia Road. Musa, who had confided in his brother about fears of traveling on the dangerous route, was shot while trying to escape. He died the following day, leaving behind a wife and two children. His death added to the long list of tragedies in Katsina, where hundreds have been killed and kidnapped in recent months.
A security report by Beacon Consulting recorded 341 deaths and 495 kidnappings in Katsina during the first quarter of 2025 alone. The violence, rooted in decades of cattle rustling, land disputes, and arms proliferation after regional conflicts, has grown into organised banditry, with groups now carrying out raids, abductions, and extortion across the North-West.
In recent months, communities such as Batsari, Jibia, and Danmusa LGAs have resorted to negotiating with armed groups. The deals, often witnessed by security operatives, vigilantes, and traditional leaders, typically involve the release of captives, suspension of attacks, and free access to markets in return for community cooperation. Some of the bandit leaders involved, including men already declared wanted by the military, appeared openly at meetings heavily armed.
Despite military offensives, including airstrikes and ground operations that have neutralised several commanders and freed kidnapped victims, residents say attacks persist. In some places, locals admitted to paying levies to avoid raids. The collapse of earlier amnesty programmes, coupled with weak state protection, has pushed communities into desperate pacts for survival.
Legal experts and rights advocates warn that such negotiations weaken the rule of law and embolden armed groups. By allowing notorious leaders to dictate terms, the state risks creating a cycle where violence becomes a bargaining chip. Analysts draw parallels with past amnesty deals in the Niger Delta, arguing that bandits now believe persistent violence will eventually secure them recognition and rewards.
Lawyers further caution that peace deals undermine criminal justice by shielding offenders from punishment. They argue that the failure to hold perpetrators accountable strips the government of its duty to protect citizens and erodes trust in state institutions. For many victims, this means justice is denied, leaving communities caught between survival and lawlessness.