KATSINA — A notorious bandit leader, Kachalla Ummaru, has warned security operatives that relying solely on military force to tackle insecurity in Katsina State would backfire, insisting that violent crackdowns only fuel the cycle of violence.
Speaking over the weekend at a peace meeting between bandit groups and community leaders in Matazu Local Government Area, Ummaru cautioned that “if you kill 10 of us today, 20 more will emerge tomorrow.”
His remarks, captured in a video published by counter-insurgency outlet Zagazola Makama, came as Katsina stakeholders pushed to strengthen dialogue between rural communities and armed groups.
“If today you kill 10 bandits, tomorrow you’ll see 20. You kill 20, another 30 will rise both in our bushes and villages,” Ummaru declared.
He accused the government of neglecting the people while focusing on revenue generation, adding that the peace process would fail unless detained bandits were released and residents stopped tipping off security operatives.
“If our boys mistakenly abduct anyone or if security operatives arrest one of ours, stakeholders should intervene to ensure their release,” he said. “If these operatives won’t be told to leave us alone, then I don’t think these peace talks have any importance.”
Ummaru further urged mutual respect between security agencies and bandit groups, telling the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Danmusa LGA:
“To you, the DPO of Danmusa, if you want our peace talks to yield results, then every favour we seek should be considered and done. The same way we honor your requests, you must also honor ours.”
The weekend meeting coincided with broader peace efforts in Katsina. Two more LGAs — Sabuwa and Dandume — entered into accords with bandit groups, bringing to nine the total number of local councils now engaged in peace pacts, including Batsari, Kankara, Kurfi, Musawa, Danmusa, Jibia, and Faskari.
As part of the deal, bandits pledged to halt hostilities and release abductees, while demanding the release of detained members and an end to vigilante reprisals during market visits. Local authorities, in turn, promised to reopen the Dandume cattle market and guarantee the bandits’ safety during community interactions.
The peace talks highlight the tense balancing act in Katsina, where authorities are betting on dialogue despite skepticism over whether such agreements can hold.
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