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EXCLUSIVE: Fulanis decry injustice in North West, seek end to violence in Zamfara as top bandits weigh surrender

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EXCLUSIVE: Fulanis decry injustice in North West, seek end to violence in Zamfara as top bandits weigh surrender

By Zagazola Makama

In the heart of Zamfara’s conflict-weary forests, a growing chorus of Fulani herders and leaders is calling for an end to violence not with weapons, but through dialogue and justice. They say they are ready to embrace peace, if government addresses long-standing grievances that have festered into bloody confrontations.

For over a decade, northwestern Nigeria has been plagued by banditry, livestock rustling, mass abductions and retaliatory attacks that have left hundreds dead and thousands displaced. But in a rare show of willingness, Fulani stakeholders at a recent meeting in Gusau expressed readiness to renounce violence if treated with fairness.

The sensitisation forum, hosted on May 4 by the Commander of 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, brought together Fulani leaders under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), alongside top security officials, including representatives of the State Director of Security and the Commissioner of Police.

Fulani leaders from all 14 local government areas of Zamfara attended the meeting, where they poured out their grievances — some dating back years — and appealed for genuine government intervention.

“We are not all bandits,” Fulani leaders insist

“I have lost over 150 cows to Yansakai, yet I have never carried a weapon or joined any group,” said Mallam Salisu Umar, a herder from Maru LGA. “But every time they see a Fulani man, they see a bandit. Is that fair? Is that justice?”

Another herder, Muhammadu Sale, alleged that just last Friday, vigilantes stole about 300 livestock belonging to a law-abiding Fulani man. “They never took the animals to the committee on recovery of livestock — they sold them in the market in connivance with some local security actors,” he said. “In Rijiya, Gusau LGA, another 370 livestock were stolen and diverted.”

The Yansakai vigilante groups, originally formed to protect communities, were accused of indiscriminate violence against Fulani settlements, burning homes, killing unarmed civilians, and rustling cattle under the guise of fighting banditry.

According to Mallam Haruna Dogo from Anka LGA, the situation has become so dire that Fulani children cannot attend schools in Hausa-dominated communities. “The hatred has grown so deep that our children are denied access to education and basic amenities. We are being cut off from society,” he lamented.

Several speakers at the forum said Fulani herders were being profiled, attacked, and even executed without trial. “In some cases, a Fulani youth is captured, beaten until he confesses to being a bandit, and then killed. If anyone dares retrieve his corpse, they are accused of being an accomplice,” said one leader.

Another Fulani elder said he had not travelled in a vehicle for four years out of fear, noting that the meeting in Gusau marked his first time stepping out in days. “Thousands of Fulani families are hiding in the bush, living in fear. Their only crime is being Fulani — and because of a few criminals among us, the whole society sees us as enemies.”

“Our cows are stolen, and security agencies look the other way”

One of the most serious allegations raised at the forum was the alleged collaboration between rogue security personnel and vigilante groups.
“They recover our cows and sell them,” alleged Alhaji Musa Bature from Tsafe. “We sometimes find the stolen animals in open markets. When we report to police, nothing is done. Security agents are benefitting from these crimes.”

He said this cycle of dispossession and injustice was pushing many Fulani youths into banditry.

“Even when we warn them, they say they have no choice. Food is scarce. A mudu of rice is nearly N10,000. Slippers cost N5,000 because of the risks traders face. This desperation leads them into evil acts like kidnapping.”

Umar Jega from Bakura LGA said his entire village was razed by Yansakai last year. “We lost everything. No one was held accountable. We are treated like people without rights.”
Many Fulani leaders at the forum blamed systemic injustice for driving youth into militancy.

Hope from within: top bandits open to surrender

In a potentially game-changing development, several notorious bandit leaders, including Saidu Naeka, Jimmi Smally and Kabiru Yankusa, have indicated willingness to surrender arms on the condition of safety and reintegration. Even Notorious bandits leaders like Bello Truji and Alhaji Nashama have were also part of those who agrees to key into the ongoing non-kinetic efforts.

There are some Fulanis who see the approach as a ploy to arrest them while others think it was politically motivated to manipulation manipulate them. Also, bandits kingpins like Ado Alero and Madele showed interest initially, by sending their representatives to attend the meeting.

“These men are tired,” said a source familiar with the dialogue. “They want peace, but they need assurance they won’t be killed or humiliated. Some of them have also lost loved ones in the cycle of violence.”

Sources said the bandit leaders had already begun patrolling parts of Sokoto Road to deter attacks. “Just last week, they eliminated two bandits who attempted to block the road.”

Following the meeting, more than 100 kidnap victims were released in separate operations in Moriki and Kango Forest. Some victims were handed over directly to the military, while others were rescued by vigilantes and handed over to troops. “We were told we were being released because their leaders now want peace,” said Rabiatu Halliru, one of the freed captives.
Another victim, who spent five months in captivity, said: “It was a miracle. We didn’t pay any ransom. They told us they had made a promise to release us and they kept it.”

The non-kinetic approach initially brought relative calm in the Anka general area, until when some hybrid forces brought in from the North East attacked and beheaded an innocent Fulani boy and cut off some part of his body, roasted it and eat it, that’s when tensions grew again. Another Fulani woman was killed by the Yansakai when she went to the Market, with the accusation that she was linked with bandits.

Fulani leaders propose roadmap to peace

To consolidate peace, Fulani leaders proposed a number of initiatives, including: disbanding or properly regulating the Yansakai vigilantes who were neither employed or recognized by the government. They also want government to reconsider reopening of their cattle markets and herders’ movement corridors.

The Fulani elder also demanded that they want schools, boreholes, and health centres to be constructed in Fulani communities, while insisting on equal treatment of offenders, regardless of ethnicity because they said there are two types of banditry, the one perpetrated by the criminal bandits amongst them and the one perpetrated by Yansakai along with some rogue security personnel.

They proposed direct engagement between MACBAN and bandit leaders to facilitate further releases and end attacks on farmers, nothing that If such opportunity is wasted, more lives will be lost,” warned Mallam Abubakar Sani from Zurmi.

“We are tired. Our children are tired. Let this be the beginning of the end.”he said.

Alhaji Bello Maiturare, MACBAN Chairman in Zamfara, pledged to lead the dialogue with bandits. “We’ve spoken to some of them. They are listening because of this meeting. If the government keeps its word, we will bring more people out of the bush.”

“Most bandits are not sincere” – Theatre Commander

However, the Theatre Commander of the Joint Task Force, Operation FANSAN YANMA, Maj.-Gen. Oluyinka Soyele, expressed caution.

“Most of the bandits are not sincere. Even after promising to stop attacks, they continue killing and kidnapping people,” he said.

Soyele reiterated that Governor Dauda Lawal and the Government, through the Operation Safe Corridor initiative, had consistently said that only genuinely repentant bandits who renounce violence would be accepted.

“If they are serious and send emissaries to declare their readiness to stop, why not? We are not happy fighting our own people whether Hausa or Fulani , they are Nigerians.”

“But let me tell you what usually happens: when they feel the heat from military operations, they offer to surrender. Once the pressure eases, they regroup, rearm and return to terrorism.”

On the issue of Yansakai, Soyele said: “No one owns up to forming it, but everyone agrees it was created by the Hausa community to protect themselves from cattle rustling. If attacks stop from one side, we can contain the other. But the key is sincerity.”

“Even today, they attacked Maru. We still hear of pockets of attacks here and there by Dan Sadiya. So where is the sincerity?” the Theatre Commander Insist.

Special Appeal to the Defence Headquarters, National Security Adviser, National Counter Terrorism Centre, and DSS: A Call for a Unified, Sustainable Approach to Ending Banditry and Restoring Peace in the North West

However, Zagazola Makama, noted that as Nigeria marks over 15 years of protracted violence and insecurity in the North West, it is time to acknowledge a hard but essential truth: the military alone cannot end banditry.

“What we face is no longer a purely kinetic conflict; it is a complex socio-security crisis that demands a whole-of-society approach, one that combines force with dialogue, justice with reconciliation, and tactical operations with strategic engagement.

“We commend the Defence Headquarters and the intelligence community for the consistent pressure mounted on bandits across Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Niger States. We also acknowledge the courageous efforts of security forces on the frontline.

However, it is time to complement those military operations with non-kinetic solutions that address the root causes of the violence, as recently demonstrated in Katsina, Kaduna, and Benue States, where targeted engagement with bandit leaders and conflict stakeholders has begun to yield positive results.

“Let us be candid: the pattern of violence across the North West, North Central, and even parts of the North East suggests that the same networks of armed bandits are interlinked from Zamfara and Katsina to Benue, Plateau, and Taraba.

Their grievances of the Fulani people are strikingly similar ranging from extrajudicial killings by vigilantes (Yan Sakai), loss of livelihoods, lack of inclusion in governance, to ethnic profiling. While these do not justify actions of some criminals amongst them, they point to the urgent need for political, social, and security reintegration mechanisms.

A tragic illustration of this is the recent escalation in Birnin Magaji LGA, Zamfara State, where 25 communities have been banned from accessing their farmlands by a notorious kingpin, Alhaji Nashama. According to local sources, Nashama had earlier promised to protect these communities from rival bandit groups. However, following the alleged killing of two of his relatives, Babuga and Usman whom he claimed were innocent by Yan Sakai operatives, he imposed a violent embargo on farming activities in the area, vowing to kill anyone seen in the fields.

This is not an isolated case. It reflects the fragile trust deficit between rural communities, vigilantes, and armed groups, and point to why pure military responses cannot sustainably resolve this crisis. If we are to prevent further reprisals and displacements, we must take bold steps to re-establish dialogue channels, backed by the intelligence and verification strength of the DSS, the National Counter Terrorism Centre, and community leaders.

We therefore urge the Federal Government to seize this opportunity to chart a new strategy for lasting peace in the Country. The success of community dialogue efforts in places like Katsina and Kaduna, proves that where there is political will and strategic coordination, peace is possible. The time has come to act not just with force, but with foresight.

Nigeria deserves peace. The people of Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Benue, and Plateau deserve to farm, trade, and live without fear. Let us give peace a chance decisively and deliberately.

Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad Region

EXCLUSIVE: Fulanis decry injustice in North West, seek end to violence in Zamfara as top bandits weigh surrender

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AT PRESIDENT QUATTARA’S INAUGURATION:

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December 9, 2025

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AT PRESIDENT QUATTARA’S INAUGURATION:

** VP Shettima Reaffirms Nigeria’s Commitment To Regional Stability, Peace

** As World Bank hails Nigeria’s reforms, pledges more partnership in energy, job creation, gender empowerment

By: Our Reporter

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday witnessed the inauguration and swearing-in ceremony of President Alassane Ouattara for another term in office as President of Côte d’Ivoire in Abidjan, where he reaffirmed Nigeria’s continued commitment to regional peace and stability.

This is just as the World Bank has applauded the reform policies of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, pledging to heighten its partnership with the nation on energy, job creation and gender empowerment initiatives.

At the presidential inauguration that brought together West African leaders and international dignitaries in Abidjan, VP Shettima who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also conveyed the warm congratulations of the Nigerian leader to President Ouattara on his swearing-in.

The inauguration took place at the Presidential Palace, where President Ouattara took the oath of office, pledging to prioritise national reconciliation and economic stability as he begins another term leading the West African nation.

Speaking on behalf of President Tinubu, the Vice President expressed confidence in President Ouattara’s continued leadership and wished him success in his new mandate.

Senator Shettima reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to deepening the strong partnership between both nations and working together to advance peace, stability, security, and prosperity across the West African region.

The Nigerian Vice President noted that both countries will further strengthen their economic ties through agriculture and trade relations.

In his inaugural address, President Ouattara thanked all visiting leaders who came to show solidarity and friendship with the I’voirans, promising to continue to work for the well-being of his citizens and engage more robustly in diplomatic relations for mutual benefits.

Other leaders who attended the event include the Presidents of South Africa, Liberia, Senegal, Gambia, Angola, Ghana amongst others, and former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

The United States was represented by a Presidential Delegation led by Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Jacob Helberg. High-level personalities and delegates from ECOWAS and other nations also graced the occasion.

Meanwhile, the World Bank has applauded the reform policies of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, pledging to heighten its partnership with the nation on energy, job creation and gender empowerment initiatives.

The global financial institution stated this on Monday in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, when Vice President Shettima received in audience the Managing Director, Operations, of the World Bank Group, Ms. Anna Bjerde, on the sidelines of the presidential inauguration.

He told Ms Bjerde that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from inception, had to contend with negative impact of the oil subsidy regime on the economic growth of the country, just as he outlined the positive results of the administration’s bold reforms.

The VP further told the World Bank Director that the ongoing tax reforms of the Tinubu administration has yielded positive result, saying “we have crossed the Rubicon.”

He pointed out that though the impact of the reforms may have been painful at the initial stage, it has started showing the dividends, even as he said in order to turn the demographic bulge into demographic dividends, the administration is focusing on gender empowerment initiative, investments in the digital economy and agriculture for enhanced productivity.

The Vice President commended the World Bank team for being supportive to Nigeria.

Earlier, the Managing Director, Operations, of the World Bank Group, Ms. Bjerde, commended Nigeria for taking pragmatic initiatives to position the country on the right path.

Noting that the World Bank is willing to partner more on energy, she said, “First, on energy, we’re stepping up on a number of possibilities to ensure that about four million people are connected.”

Ms. Bjerde also revealed that her group will encourage and enhance upliftment and education of the girl-child in Nigeria.

AT PRESIDENT QUATTARA’S INAUGURATION:

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Workshop for SAs reflects administration’s commitment to effective leadership—Governor Buni

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December 9, 2025

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Workshop for SAs reflects administration’s commitment to effective leadership—Governor Buni

By: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe State Governor Hon. (Dr.) Mai Mala Buni CON has revealed that the training workshop for Special Advisers reflects the administration’s commitment to effective leadership and quality service delivery.

Governor Buni started this while launching a four-day training workshop for special advisers in Kano. Adding that the training workshop aimed at boosting efficiency and promoting good governance.

The governor, ably represented by his deputy, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana (Wazirin Fune), said that the event was crucial for deepening governance effectiveness and improving policy coherence.

According to him, the workshop will also enhance service delivery across the executive team, particularly for those serving as key policy and strategic aides, and he noted that the special advisers play a vital role in policy formulation and implementation.

“The training will address practical areas, especially conflict management, collaborative engagement, communication strategy, ethical leadership, and teamwork among advisers.” Gov. Buni said.

The Secretary to the Yobe State Government, Alhaji Baba Mallam Wali mni, ably represented by the Permanent Secretary, Administration and General Services, Alhaji Madu Gashu’a, revealed that the program aims to enhance collaboration between political and administrative officers.

The training workshop is expected to enhance the participants’ effectiveness and contribute to the overall success of the administration.

Workshop for SAs reflects administration’s commitment to effective leadership—Governor Buni

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Benue Takes Decisive Step to Strengthen Climate Governance Framework

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December 9, 2025

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Benue Takes Decisive Step to Strengthen Climate Governance Framework

Benue State has taken a decisive step to strengthen its climate governance framework, signalling a renewed commitment to addressing the growing environmental challenges facing the state.

The state government has identified prioritizing stronger institutional capacity and legislative leadership as key drivers for building long-term climate resilience.

At the one-day training on climate change, themed “Strengthening Legislative Leadership for Developing Climate Change Resilience and Carbon Budgeting in Benue State,” top government officials, members of the 10th State House of Assembly, and international development partners gathered in Abuja to deepen climate awareness and equip lawmakers with the tools to drive effective policies.

The training emphasized the critical role of informed legislation in institutionalizing carbon budgeting, promoting sustainable development, and safeguarding Benue’s future against escalating climate threats.

In his keynote address, the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, represented by his Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Chenge, raised concern over the increasing exposure of the state to climate-related disasters, noting that frequent flooding, erratic rainfall, rising temperatures and biodiversity loss now threaten agriculture, infrastructure and rural livelihoods.

He said: “Benue State, known as the Food Basket of the Nation, bears a disproportionate vulnerability to climate change.

“We have witnessed increasing frequency of floods in Makurdi, Agatu, Guma, Logo, Katsina-Ala and other riverine LGAs; erratic rainfall affecting crop yield; rising temperatures impacting water security and the health of our people; as well as degradation of forest landscapes and biodiversity.”

Chenge added that the effects of climate change are already eroding the state’s economic foundations, insisting that: “When climate disasters strike, it is our farmers, our women, our youth and our rural communities who suffer the most.

“Our food production systems are exposed, our infrastructure is weakened and our social stability is endangered. We cannot afford to treat this as a distant problem—its impacts are already at our doorstep.”

He called for urgent legislative action, emphasizing that the House of Assembly holds the power to set the pace for the state’s climate transition stating that “Climate governance begins with strong laws, effective oversight and a clear budgeting framework, you as lawmakers, have the power to strengthen the Benue State Climate Change Law so it evolves with global best practices, you can institutionalize carbon budgeting systems, legislate climate-smart land use and demand accountability from MDAs. With your leadership, we can turn challenges into opportunities for green development.”

He further stressed that climate resilience must be mainstreamed into all sectors. “Every ministry must begin to think climate. Every local government must plan with climate in mind, and every future development blueprint must place environmental sustainability at its core, out survival as a people depends on the decisions we make today.” He noted .

The country Director of International Alert Nigeria, Kingsley Udo, highlighted the need for unified climate leadership, describing the gathering as a strong demonstration of the state’s readiness to confront climate-related risks.

He said: “I am delighted to see such a rich gathering of stakeholders committed to strengthening climate governance in Benue State, your presence reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that our institutions, communities and governance structures work together in confronting the realities of climate change.”

He emphasized that climate change is fast becoming a major driver of conflict if left unaddressed.

He noted that “In Benue, Nigeria’s food basket, erratic rainfall, flooding, prolonged dry seasons and land degradation are contributing not only to environmental stress but also to heightened competition over land, water and livelihoods.”

He explained that: “Climate pressure, if unmanaged, becomes a conflict trigger, that is why proactive climate governance is no longer optional; it is essential for long-term peace.”

Udo also highlighted International Alert’s decades-long work in peacebuilding and governance reform.

“International Alert has worked for over 30 years globally and nearly two decades in Nigeria helping communities find peaceful solutions to conflict, we have partnered with governments, civil society and security agencies to develop responsive policies and strengthen institutional capacity. Our commitment to Benue is rooted in our belief that peace and climate security must go hand in hand.” He said .

He called on lawmakers to take a central role in implementing the Climate Change Act noting that: “As lawmakers, your leadership is indispensable,The Act will remain a document unless you translate it into real, actionable and well-resourced policies. Your oversight, your budgeting decisions and your engagement with your constituencies determine how far Benue will go in building resilience.”

Udo added further that the state cannot wait for disasters before taking action.

“We must move from reaction to prevention, the time for hesitation is over , the climate is changing faster than our systems are adapting,this meeting marks an important step toward bridging that gap.”he said .

The Director General, Benue State Council On Climate Change (BSCCC), Aondofa Mailumo identified the climate situation in Benue as severe and escalating. Shifting rainfall patterns, flooding, rising temperatures, erosion, declining soil fertility and the struggle of farmers signal that the state is approaching a dangerous threshold. The food system—not just the environment—is under threat. This urgency forms the foundation for why legislative action, financing and coordinated climate governance are essential.

He said: “Benue State, the food basket of the nation, is increasingly confronted with environmental realities that threaten the economic lifeline of its people. Farmers are struggling, food production is declining, and our communities are facing heightened vulnerability. These growing impacts highlight the urgent need for climate action.”

The DG emphasized that no climate initiative policy, plan, or strategy,can succeed without the backing of the State Assembly. Laws must create structure, continuity, accountability and enforcement without legislation, climate plans remain intentions; with legislation, they become enforceable frameworks capable of driving real change.

He further noted that the key legislative responsibilities include providing legal backing for the Climate Change Law and its Action Plan, institutionalizing carbon budgeting across government operations, mandating climate risk assessments for public projects, ensuring consistent climate reporting by MDAs, and approving sustainable budgetary provisions for adaptation and mitigation initiatives.

He said: “Without supportive legislation, climate policies remain aspirations. With strong laws, they become instruments for real transformation. The Legislature has the power to institutionalize carbon budgeting, mandate climate risk assessments, and safeguard the climate agenda of Benue State.”

He revealed that the major barrier to climate action is inadequate financing , current budget allocations are intermittent and insufficient, while the scale of climate threats demands sustained, predictable funding.

The DG stressed that Benue must diversify its financing sources to include domestic, international, private sector and community-level channels. This blended finance model is essential for moving from planning to implementation.

“Climate action requires huge financial resources that government alone cannot shoulder, to move from planning to implementation, we must expand our financing landscape tapping into domestic, international, private-sector and community-level climate finance,” he said.

Beyond challenges, the DG said climate change must be used as an opportunity for transformation, noting that with effective mitigation and adaptation strategies, Benue can strengthen agriculture, promote green innovation, create jobs and build long-term resilience Climate action, therefore, is not only defensive but also developmental.

“Mitigation and adaptation represent an opportunity to reduce climate risks, drive sustainable development, protect livelihoods, and promote green innovation in Benue State. This is our chance to build a resilient future,” he said.

Participants agreed that the state legislature must anchor climate governance by enacting responsive laws, mandating climate risk assessments and ensuring transparent use of climate funds.

The meeting concluded with a collective commitment from government leaders, lawmakers and development partners to prioritize climate action as a central pillar of Benue’s long-term development strategy. Stakeholders emphasized that while technical solutions are essential, they must be complemented by strong political will, effective legislation and continuous capacity building with strengthened legislative leadership and continued collaboration with partners such as International Alert, Benue State appears poised to chart a more resilient, climate-responsive and sustainable path for its citizens.

Benue Takes Decisive Step to Strengthen Climate Governance Framework

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