Olayiwola Matthew
A picture has surfaced showing Babaro, a notorious bandit leader, at a peace dialogue held on Sunday in Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Security analyst, Zagazola Makama, shared the photo on X, noting that Babaro has been terrorising the Kankara and Malumfashi areas.
Makama said Babaro is alleged to have led the recent attack on worshippers in Mantau, Malumfashi LGA, where 32 people were killed and many others injured during Isha prayers.
The development comes as security analyst Bakatsine also confirmed on Sunday that Faskari residents and bandits agreed on a peace deal that included mutual forgiveness, unarmed entry into towns, safe farming, grazing, and the release of captives without ransom.
“Peace deal in Faskari LGA, Katsina State as residents and bandits agree on unarmed entry into town by bandits, safe farming/grazing, mutual forgiveness, captives freed without ransom. Notorious figures like Ado Aleru, Babaro and Kwashen-garwa attended,” Bakatsine wrote.
Peace meetings of this nature have become a recurring strategy in Katsina and other troubled states across Nigeria’s northwest, where banditry and farmer-herder conflicts have left thousands dead and displaced countless families in recent years.
While proponents of dialogue argue that negotiation is essential to ending cycles of violence, critics say granting violent actors legitimacy without justice perpetuates impunity and weakens public trust.
Authorities are yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.