Engr. Sagir Tanimu, Chairman of Sabuwa Local Government Area in Katsina State, has attended the wedding ceremony of children belonging to some of the bandits operating in the state.
The event, held just weeks after a peace agreement, was part of ongoing reconciliation efforts between the government and the armed groups in the region, according to Sahara Reporters.
Tanimu reportedly joined Fulani residents in the forest community of Kadawan Dandume village, which recently reconciled with local authorities after years of violent clashes.
Those who accompanied the council chairman included the representative of the Emirate, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello Kogo, the Prince of Kogo Emirate in Katsina, and the District Head of Sabuwa.
However, residents warned that genuine reconciliation can only occur when the armed groups publicly renounce violence and surrender their weapons.
Recall that government officials and traditional leaders in Katsina State recently held another round of “peace talks” with bandits in Matazu Local Government Area.
The meeting, aimed at easing hostilities and promoting dialogue, brought together local government leaders and representatives of the armed groups operating across the state.
This latest engagement followed a similar meeting in Faskari Local Government Area, where several bandit leaders—some visibly armed—were in attendance.
Authorities say the peace talks are part of a broader strategy to curb insecurity in Katsina, a state long plagued by banditry, killings, and mass kidnappings.
However, analysts warn that similar peace initiatives in Katsina and Zamfara between 2019 and 2021 collapsed after armed groups reorganised and expanded their influence. Many residents also report continuing to pay “taxes” and levies to bandits despite ongoing peace claims.
Katsina remains at the heart of Nigeria’s rural banditry crisis, with years of violence, kidnappings, and displacement. The International Organisation for Migration estimates that more than 1.3 million people have been displaced across the North-West since February 2025.
