…for any peace process to work, the bandits must lay down their arms not flaunt them – residents
MATAZU, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | What began as a hopeful peace dialogue in Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State descended into tension and disbelief on Saturday when heavily armed bandits stormed the venue with sophisticated weapons, including Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs), General Machine Guns (GMGs), and AK-47 rifles.
The meeting, convened by local leaders and Islamic clerics, was part of ongoing efforts to broker peace with notorious bandit groups responsible for a wave of abductions, killings, and disruptions to farming activities in the region.
Eyewitnesses described the moment a feared bandit leader arrived at the meeting wielding high-grade weapons, sending shockwaves through attendees who had gathered in good faith to chart a path toward non-violence.
“It was meant to be a peace meeting, but what we saw was a show of force,” a community leader told The iNews Times. “You came to a peace talk with AK-47 rifles, RPGs, and GMGs, and you returned to the bush with the same weapons. How can this be called a peace deal?”
Islamic clerics and other local authorities present were visibly alarmed by the intimidation tactics, calling into question the sincerity of the armed groups.
One of the clerics at the meeting warned that peace cannot be achieved if one side continues to negotiate under the shadow of deadly firepower. “Peace requires trust. There can be no trust where weapons speak louder than words,” he said.
Local residents, many of whom have lost family members and livelihoods to repeated bandit attacks, urged the government to take a more assertive stance in handling such negotiations.
“For any peace process to work, the bandits must lay down their arms not flaunt them,” a resident noted. “We cannot keep pretending these meetings are meaningful when they only embolden the attackers.”
As communities across Katsina continue to grapple with insecurity, stakeholders are calling for more robust government intervention, including the deployment of security forces and stricter conditions for future peace engagements.
Saturday’s incident has reignited concerns over the growing audacity of armed groups and the urgent need for a credible, disarmament-driven approach to ending rural violence in the North-West.
