The Chairman of Funtua Local Government Area in Katsina State yesterday afternoon met face-to-face with a notorious armed bandit group, publicly framing the encounter as a grassroots “peace initiative” to end violence in the region.
Eyewitnesses and viral social media footage show the chairman engaging the group in broad daylight, an event immediately condemned as a dangerous legitimization of criminal elements that have terrorized Funtua and surrounding communities for years.
Security analyst and Katsina-based journalist Bakatsine, led the backlash, declaring:
“This public romance with armed bandits sends a fatal message and undermines every sacrifice made in the fight against insecurity. Governor Radda must intervene before trust collapses.”
The visit follows a series of controversial local peace accords signed last month across five Katsina LGAs, Funtua, Bakori, Kafur, Malumfashi, and Kankara under which communities pledged cooperation in exchange for reduced attacks.
While the state government insists these are not official negotiations and are driven by traditional leaders, critics argue they reward violence without requiring disarmament.
No official statement has been released by the Funtua LGA or Katsina State Government as of Friday morning.
However, sources close to the administration say the chairman acted independently, citing “community pressure” to restore farming and trade.
Residents remain divided: some see dialogue as the only path to survival, while others fear the move will embolden bandits to demand concessions in other councils.
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