No fewer than 20 of the 34 local government areas in Katsina have entered into a peace accord with bandits, even as fresh incidents across the state have raised concerns over the effectiveness of the arrangement.
The agreement was reached during a meeting involving council chairmen and traditional rulers from the participating local government areas.
Attendees told Vanguard that the armed groups arrived on motorcycles, fired gunshots into the air, and departed within an hour.
Journalists were not allowed to record the proceedings due to security considerations.
According to media accounts of the discussions, the groups asked for the release of individuals currently in detention, while signalling a readiness to free those in their own custody.
Local authorities were said to have agreed to channel all such requests through the appropriate security and correctional institutions.
Despite the truce, several residents in areas covered by the accord say they remain anxious following reports of continued attacks in some communities.
A resident, who asked not to be named, said people simply want stability.
He said: “My only hope is for us to regain our freedom and have peace. Many lives have been lost, and livelihoods destroyed. We just want to start again.”
Another community member urged consistent dialogue to strengthen the fragile deal.
“There should be ongoing engagement to prevent misunderstandings. Strong committees need to meet regularly to review progress and address any lapses,” he said.
A third resident welcomed the accord cautiously, saying it could offer temporary relief for rural dwellers facing economic hardship.
“If this agreement holds, our communities may have a chance to harvest and rebuild. Many people in the southern and eastern parts of Katsina have faced serious losses,” he stated.
For many, however, the central concern remains the recurring attacks in some local government areas already covered by the peace arrangement, prompting renewed calls for stronger security measures and clearer communication from authorities.
The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.