Katsina Killings: Time To Review Strategies -By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

The killing of over 50 people who were observing dawn or morning prayer in unguwa mantau,Malumfashi local government, Katsina state, on Tuesday, last week, has further revealed the dire and horrible security situation in the state. Katsina state has been battling with the dangerous activities of bandits who hold the state to ransom, attacks and kidnap local farmers at will. The non-state actors have been terrorising Katsina and other northwest states like Zamfara, Sokoto, Kaduna and Kebbi. Banditry in Zamfara and Katsina state began from cattle rustling and illegal mining activities. It, however, transformed into dangerous industry, affecting socio-economic activities of those ravaged states and the country at large. Though, various measures have been put in place to address the menace of banditry by both the federal and affected States, including kinetic and non-kinetic approach, one is visibly disturbed that,the killing of innocent lives by blood taste bandits have defied lasting solution. Instead, the ungodly incidence is continuing unabated with more people being killed and displaced.

While Zamfara and Katsina state have created, funded and armed communities volunteers’ security guards to complement the federal government security outfits, the rapacious bandits have become undeterred, violent and bold to continue attacking farming communities. The creation of communities security volunteers guards is another effort geared towards stemming the tide of banditry. This has come after repeatedly negotiation with the leadership of the bandits failed to yield a desired results. The former governor of Katsina state, Aminu Bello Masari, had once entered a peace deal with the leader of bandits in the state, Dogo Gide, who surrendered his arms and promised never to unleash terror against defenceless communities. The negotiation led to temporary suspension of attacks and enjoyment of brief peace that did not last long. Sadly, Dogo Gide’s camp reneged from the peace deal and returned to hostilities. The breached of agreement by Dogo Gide and his lieutenants angered governor Aminu Masari, who promised never to negotiate or enter into peace pact with the bandits.

Since the coming of governor Dikko Radda on board, Katsina state has been enjoying relative peace with little portion of attacks in some rural areas. With renew hostilities in Malumfashi, where over 50 lives were cruelty murdered and several houses burned to ashes, there is the need for federal and state government to review their strategic and passion out more organise approach to tackle banditry. The complex tapestry of security challenges bedevil the north has brought into fore an advise offered by the former chief of army staff. Recently, General Tukur Buratai, in an interview granted to Channel Television, stated that, the war against banditry in the country will take long time to end. He, however, adviced the federal government to lock up the country in a reminisce of COVID-19 period, wage an unrelented war against banditry and other criminals in the country. Buratai ‘s advice as a war veteran can be useful, but no doubt, war against non-state actors is hard to win through the barrel of guns. Evidence are bound globally on how advance countries adopted carrots and stick approach in addressing security challenges. Security experts have also agreed that, war against insurgency can be won through the mix up of state’s superior fire power and mediation.

Added to his tone on dialogue with bandits, renowned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi advocates for the adoption of dialogue rather than brutal force by government. Sheikh Gumi, warned government to stop killing the bandits who are mostly aggrieved fulanis who took up arms against the state. Sheikh Gumi who toured some northern states and met with the leaders of these bandits encourages government to explore dialogue as the best option. Gumi explained that, fulanis are the victims of injustice in the country. They lack social amenities such as: schools, clean water and hospitals. Besides, fulani have become victims of cattle rustlers. Many herders have lost millions of their cattles to these organised cartels. In Katsina and Zamfara state, there is no love lost between vigilantes groups (Yan sa kai) and the herders. The security operatives and traditional rulers are being accused for extortion whenever cases involve fulanis are brought to their domain. This has promoted distrust and fuel resentment among the fulanis pastoralists.
The killing of innocent people in unguwa mantau in Malumfashi, Katsina state and other carnage across the north, calls for expedite action from government. Government should go beyond blowing its own trumpet or dish out figures of bandits leaders eliminated and face the stark realities. Farming communities are being daily attacked, their properties looted and women raped. Moreover, miyyatti Allah, socio-cultural organisation of fulani has a bigger role to play in bringing this killing to an end. With these senseless massacres link to fulani ethnic extraction, miyyatti Allah, should step in, preach the gospel of peace, identify criminals among them and fished them out to face the laws of the land. Banditry is an organised crime with possible national and international sponsorship. Government should intensify efforts to find out their financiers, disrupt their net work and bring them to justice.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna State. 08169056963.