Despite failing to renounce their criminal activities or surrender their weapons following a peace agreement with the Katsina State Government, the Chairman of Sabuwa Local Government Area, Engr. Sagir Tanimu, attended the wedding ceremony of children belonging to some of the bandits in the state.
The event, held weeks after the peace pact, was reportedly part of ongoing reconciliation efforts between the government and the bandit groups operating in the area.
Tanimu was said to have also joined Fulani residents in the forest for a wedding ceremony in Kadawan Dandume village, a community recently reconciled with the local authorities after years of violent clashes.
Those who accompanied the council chairman to the event included the representative of the Emirate, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello Kogo, the Prince of Kogo Emirate in Katsina, and the District Head of Sabuwa.
However, residents warn that true reconciliation can only be achieved when armed groups formally renounce violence and lay down their weapons.
SaharaReporters previously reported that government officials and traditional leaders in Katsina State recently held another round of “peace talks” with bandits in the Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The meeting, aimed at reducing hostilities and fostering dialogue, brought together local government leaders and representatives of the armed groups operating in the region.
This latest engagement follows a similar peace meeting in Faskari Local Government Area, where bandit kingpins, some carrying weapons and ammunition strapped across their bodies, were in attendance.
Authorities say the peace talks are part of ongoing efforts to address insecurity in Katsina State, which has witnessed 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.
