Prominent Islamic scholar Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has cautioned against undermining ongoing peace deals between communities and bandit leaders in Katsina State.
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In a message shared on his Facebook page on Saturday, Gumi welcomed news of a peace settlement in Sabuwa Local Government Area, where community leaders and bandits reportedly reached an agreement to end hostilities.
“Alhamdulillah. News has come that today, Sabuwa Local Government has also held a peace settlement with the bandits in the forests to establish peace throughout the entire local government area,” Gumi wrote.
He urged security agencies to support the agreements rather than disrupt them, stressing that dialogue remains the only sustainable path to ending the cycle of violence in the North. Gumi likened his call to the reintegration approach used in the Niger Delta, saying bandits should be taught how to live peacefully instead of being targeted in ways that could reignite conflict.
Recent reports indicate that local officials, traditional rulers, and community leaders have been engaging notorious bandit groups in areas such as Matazu, Faskari, and Sabuwa to reach similar settlements.
However, the peace initiatives have drawn criticism. Former senator and human rights activist Shehu Sani dismissed the efforts as a repeat of failed tactics. He argued that previous negotiations collapsed despite interventions from figures like Gumi, leaving communities at the mercy of renewed attacks.
Sani maintained that justice should be prioritized over dialogue, warning that legitimizing armed groups risks eroding accountability and disregarding victims’ rights. He also accused security agencies of failing to adequately protect rural communities from persistent violence.
