The Chairman of Sabuwa Local Government Area in Katsina State, Engr. Sagir Tanimu, attended the wedding ceremony of children belonging to bandits, weeks after a peace agreement with the state government. This is despite the armed groups failing to renounce their criminal activities or surrender their weapons.
Reconciliation Efforts Amidst Security Concerns
The event was reportedly part of ongoing reconciliation efforts between the local government and the bandit groups operating in the area. Tanimu was said to have joined Fulani residents in the forest for the wedding in Kadawan Dandume village, a community recently reconciled with local authorities after years of violent clashes.
Accompanying the council chairman were the representative of the Emirate, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello Kogo, the Prince of Kogo Emirate in Katsina, and the District Head of Sabuwa.
Residents Demand Surrender of Weapons
Despite these gestures, residents are warning that true reconciliation can only be achieved when armed groups formally renounce violence and lay down their weapons.
This controversial attendance follows recent “peace talks” between government officials, traditional leaders, and bandits. One such meeting was recently held in the Matazu Local Government Area to reduce hostilities and foster dialogue.
This latest engagement follows a similar peace meeting in the Faskari Local Government Area, where bandit kingpins, some visibly armed with weapons and ammunition, were in attendance.
Authorities say these peace talks are part of ongoing efforts to address insecurity in Katsina State, which has suffered repeated attacks and kidnappings linked to bandit groups. However, concerns remain among residents about the sincerity of the armed groups and the risks involved in negotiating under such tense conditions.
What aspects of the ongoing peace negotiations in Katsina State do you find most concerning?
