KATSINA—Fear gripped residents of Katsina State as a notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Ummaru, issued a chilling warning to security operatives, insisting that adopting a purely military approach would only fuel the cycle of violence.
Ummaru made the remarks over the weekend during a tense peace meeting between armed groups and community leaders in Matazu Local Government Area (LGA).
His comments, captured in a viral video by counter-insurgency platform Zagazola Makama, came amid ongoing efforts to broker peace between rural communities and bandits across the state.
“If You Kill 10 Today, 20 More Will Emerge”
Ummaru warned that government’s reliance on force would backfire:
“If today you kill 10 bandits, tomorrow you’ll see 20… you kill 20, another 30 will rise both in our bushes and villages.”
He accused government officials of neglecting the people, focusing only on revenue generation, and claimed security operations often exaggerated successes while failing to achieve real results.
Tense Exchanges With Security Operatives
Addressing the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Danmusa LGA directly, Ummaru stressed the need for mutual respect and fulfillment of agreements if peace talks were to succeed.
“Anything you request from us we see to it that it is done. It would be shameful if you come to us for something and we don’t do it, and the same thing goes for you,” he said.
He further warned residents against “leaking information” to security operatives, accusing communities of fueling conflict through constant complaints.
Communities Enter Peace Pacts
The peace meeting in Matazu coincided with a broader state initiative that saw two additional LGAs — Sabuwa and Dandume — signing peace accords with bandits.
This development brings the number of LGAs with signed peace pacts to nine, including Batsari, Kankara, Kurfi, Musawa, Danmusa, Jibia, Faskari, Sabuwa, and Dandume.
During the negotiations, bandit leaders reportedly agreed to halt hostilities, release abducted victims, and refrain from attacking local markets. In return, authorities pledged to release detained members, stop vigilante reprisals, and reopen the Dandume cattle market which had been shut due to insecurity.
The Bigger Picture
While the agreements have sparked cautious optimism among rural dwellers, analysts fear that Ummaru’s threats expose the fragility of the peace process. His declaration that the crisis will persist unless government changes its approach underscores the deep mistrust between the state, communities, and armed groups.
For many, the question remains: Is dialogue the key to lasting peace, or just another temporary truce in Katsina’s long war with banditry?
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