Residents of Gidan Sarki community in Tuge Ward, Musawa Local Government Area of Katsina State, have been thrown into mourning and displacement following a deadly bandit attack that occurred on Tuesday, despite an existing peace agreement between local stakeholders and armed groups.
Raising the alarm on social media, a Katsina-based security observer, Bakatsine, said bandits stormed the community, killing residents, abducting more than 20 people and carting away livestock.
“Yesterday, bandits stormed Gidan Sarki community in Tuge Ward, Musawa LGA of Katsina State, killing residents, abducting over 20 people, looting livestock and forcing entire communities to flee,” Bakatsine wrote. “Families now sleep in forests, graveyards, abandoned wells, rooftops, and under trees. This happened despite the peace deal that had been made between the LGA stakeholders and the bandits.”
He questioned the rationale behind continued negotiations with armed groups amid recurring violence. “How can authorities justify the continuation of peace deals with armed groups when communities in Musawa LGA are still being attacked, residents killed or abducted, and families forced to sleep in forests and graveyards?” he asked.
In a follow-up post, Bakatsine blamed the attacks on what he described as widespread local peace agreements that have failed to stop violence. “The issue regarding their inactivity is that LGA stakeholders across various local government areas in Katsina have entered into peace agreements with bandits,” he said.
The attack sparked widespread outrage online, with many Nigerians questioning the effectiveness of the peace deal strategy and the role of government authorities.
Danmalam, a social media user, called out the Katsina State Government and the Office of the National Security Adviser. “Please direct these questions to the Katsina State government that released the 72 terrorists and the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, who approved,” he wrote. “Katsina State attacked, Kaduna State attacked. What is the use of government if it cannot secure lives?”
Another user, @tukur_bala, asked pointedly: “Where is the Katsina State government that claimed to have a peace deal with bandits? The earlier we stop this nonsense in the North, the better, except if the government is benefiting from the suffering of the masses.”
Others argued that negotiations with armed groups should be criminalised. “It’s time for anyone who negotiates or goes into peace deals with terrorists to be treated as terrorists,” wrote @realAdedayo. “Truth is, no matter the negotiation and engagement, they won’t stop.”
Some commenters also accused authorities of abandoning communities to armed groups. “It’s enslavement of communities without government presence anymore,” Famuyiwa Olukayode wrote. “Warlords are now in charge of people’s lives.”
Amid the anger, a few reactions descended into ethnic and inflammatory rhetoric, reflecting the heightened tensions and deep frustrations surrounding insecurity in the North-West.
As of the time of filing this report, Katsina State authorities and security agencies had not issued an official statement on the Gidan Sarki attack or addressed concerns over the sustainability of peace deals with bandits.
