Katsina, Nigeria – Na so e be, local communities for Faskari Local Government Area don sit down with armed bandits to yarn about peace. This kind matter no dey sweet for ear, but dem don open negotiation wey fit change di wahala wey don dey affect dem for years. On Sunday, community leaders join hands with bandit leaders for Hayin Gada for a meeting wey fit determine di future of dem area.
As dem gather, the notorious bandit wey dem sabi as Alero dey represent him people. E talk say this initiative no be di first time wey dem dey gree to sit down and talk. But wetin make dis one different na say di turnout too plenty like town hall meeting – even Kwashé Garwa, wey dey number 19 for Nigeria’s most-wanted list, show face. Na real movie matter be dis!
Garwa wey dey very popular for all di wrong reasons, carry ammunition strap for him waist, come talk say e no dey sweet for him side when dem dey call Fulani herders bandits and terrorists. According to am, every tribe get him own duds and he make am clear say no go dey peace if some people no stop to dey kill dem.
“If person no go fit talk to us, wetin you dey expect?” Garwa ask di crowd. “We gree make dem allow us bring food and naija market back, but at what cost?” This matter don turn like wahala wey no fit end, e be like say dem don sorry for di color of dem skin.”
Even as communities dey try reason with these bandits, di state Governor Dikko Radda don still dey hold on to di belief say negotiation na di way to go. E confirm say some arrangements don dey work for some areas wey dey face war like paddy war front and na wetin dey jolly dem small!
But, make we shine our eyes o, because security analysts don talk say similar peace talks wey don happen from 2019 to 2021 for Katsina and Zamfara end up no make sense. Bandits regroup and come dey cause more wahala again. Many residents still dey pay ‘taxes’ to these armed boys, despite dem dey shake hand and gree to talk sense.
Katsina na di center of rural banditry matter wey don scatter many lives and homes. International Organisation for Migration don report say more than 1.3 million people don waka comot from dia places since February 2025. Why police no fit talk or join dis matter too? Their spokesperson no pick call when journalist try reach out. Dis no good o!
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