No fewer than 40 worshippers were kidnapped from a mosque located in Gidan Turbe Village, Tsafe Local Council of Zamfara State, yesterday morning.
The development, according to critical stakeholders, signalled the collapse of the peace deal both the Katsina and Zamfara state governments had with the terrorists in the North-West geo-political zone.
Community leaders and bandits in the Kurfi council area of Katsina State had, on 28 August this year, signed a peace agreement. The pact, according to the attendees, marked a significant step towards ending years of violence, kidnapping and cattle rustling in the zone, and by extension, the entire northern region.
The deal, brokered by the Maradin Katsina and district head of Kurfi, Mansur Amadu Kurfi, and the council chairman, Babangida Abdullahi Kurfi, took place at Wurma Forest, a hotspot of insecurity.
Key leaders of the terrorists, including Usman Kachalla Ruga, Sani Muhindinge, Yahaya Sani (Hayyu) and Alhaji Shu’aibu, pledged to cease hostilities.
They subsequently freed captives and allowed farmers to return to their fields without fear. However, less than a month after the pact was signed, it was gathered that the terrorists struck again in Zamfara where they whisked away dozens of worshippers.
It was learnt from community sources that the attack occurred during morning prayers at about 5.30 a.m., when the gunmen stormed the worship centre.
Local sources, who attributed the attack to a lack of command structure and control on the part of terrorists, disclosed that the abductors later moved the captives into the forests around the Gohori axis in Tsafe.
Responding, troops of the Operation Fansan Yamman said they have conducted several operations across the North-West theatre, foiling terrorist attacks and recovering items in Katsina, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
Specifically, the troops of 17 Brigade FOB Mabai in Kankara council area ambushed terrorists near Gatakawa Village, recovering a motorcycle and a mobile phone.
No fewer than seven council areas in Katsina State have entered into peace deals with repentant terrorists as a way of addressing the spate of attacks, killings and abductions in their various communities.
The affected local councils include Danmusa, Jibia, Batsari, Kankara, Kurfi, Musawa and most recently, Faskari, which sealed the pact Sunday afternoon.
That of Faskari was said to have also involved some notorious bandits declared wanted by security operatives, including those behind the recent attack on a mosque in Malumfashi council, which left over 30 persons dead.
Sources said all the peace deals were supervised by some government and security officials, with the agreement that the attacks should cease, while abducted victims are released.
For community members, the bandits would allow them to freely access their farmlands and move their produce to neighbouring markets without fear.
Also, the repentant bandits are to provide security for the communities, especially against non-repentant bandits wanting to attack these areas.
It was learnt that some council areas facing security challenges in the state have also begun moves to enter similar peace deals with bandits ravaging their communities.
On its part, the state government said it did not initiate the peace deals, as the policy of zero negotiations with bandits had been on since the Governor Dikko Radda-led administration assumed office more than two years ago.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Muazu, said the government does not initiate peace agreements but that they are entirely community-driven.
Muazu observed that the main causes of banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling were greed, envy, natural resource conflicts due to climate change, and long-standing social injustices.
He said banditry had spread from five council areas, in 2011–2015, to 25 councils following the collapse of an amnesty programme during the tenure of former Governor Aminu Bello Masari from 2015 to 2023.
