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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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Nigeria, India Sign Landmark Human Rights Pact, Fagbemi Backs Stronger Institutional Independence

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7 hours ago

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November 10, 2026

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Nigeria, India Sign Landmark Human Rights Pact, Fagbemi Backs Stronger Institutional Independence

…AGF pledges justice ministry’s support for implementation, demands practical safeguards for citizens in AI era

By: Michael Mike

Nigeria and India have signed a bilateral agreement to strengthen human rights protection, institutional capacity and access to justice, with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, pledging the Federal Government’s support for its implementation.

Fagbemi, who described the agreement as a strategic partnership between the two countries, said its success would ultimately be measured by its impact on ordinary citizens, particularly vulnerable and marginalised groups seeking justice.

The agreement, executed between the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of Nigeria and its Indian counterpart, is designed to deepen institutional cooperation, facilitate knowledge transfer, promote technical exchanges and strengthen operational capacity in addressing human rights violations.

The Attorney-General gave the government’s position on Tuesday in Abuja when he received a joint delegation of the two commissions at the Federal Ministry of Justice, describing the partnership as timely, particularly in an increasingly interconnected world where effective human rights protection requires stronger legal frameworks, institutional collaboration and respect for the rule of law.

The development followed a high-level engagement between the two commissions and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), at the Supreme Court Complex, Abuja, on Monday, as part of a two-day working visit by the Indian delegation.

The Nigerian delegation was led by the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Chief Tony Ojukwu, SAN, OFR, while the Indian delegation was headed by the Chairperson of India’s NHRC, Justice V. Ramasubramanian, accompanied by the Commission’s Joint Secretary, Mr. Samir Kumar.

Fagbemi said the partnership brought together two major democracies with shared common-law traditions, diverse populations and dynamic constitutional frameworks, expressing satisfaction with the thematic areas identified for cooperation under the agreement.

He specifically highlighted access to justice and the protection of digital rights as critical areas requiring urgent attention, particularly as emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, continue to reshape society and create new human rights concerns.

According to him, both countries must develop legal safeguards to protect data privacy, prevent algorithmic bias and safeguard civic space, while ensuring that technological advancement does not undermine fundamental freedoms.

He said the Ministry of Justice expected the two commissions to produce actionable research and policy recommendations capable of addressing these emerging challenges.

Beyond emerging technologies, the Attorney-General stressed that Nigeria’s commitment to human rights must be reflected in the practical implementation of constitutional guarantees and international obligations, rather than merely in the existence of legal provisions.

He cited the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which Nigeria domesticated through the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap. A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, as a major instrument underpinning the country’s human rights jurisprudence.

The Charter provides important protections relating to non-discrimination, human dignity, fair trial and personal liberty, reinforcing the fundamental rights guaranteed under Nigeria’s Constitution.

Fagbemi maintained that the true measure of a country’s commitment to human rights was its ability to translate constitutional provisions into accessible institutions, accountable public authorities and an independent judiciary.

He assured the Indian delegation that the Federal Ministry of Justice fully supported the bilateral initiative and was prepared to facilitate technical engagements, joint legal reviews and policy consultations aimed at improving the efficiency of the justice sector.

The Attorney-General also used the engagement to reaffirm the institutional independence of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, stressing that its autonomy was essential to its credibility and effectiveness.

He specifically drew attention to Section 6(3) of the National Human Rights Commission (Amendment) Act, 2010, which provides that the Commission, in exercising its statutory functions, shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other authority or person.

According to him, the administration has continued to respect and protect the Commission’s statutory independence, describing it as fundamental to institutional integrity.

He further noted that the relationship between the NHRC and the Federal Ministry of Justice had been characterised by constructive institutional synergy, mutual respect and a shared commitment to advancing human rights.

The Attorney-General commended Ojukwu and the Nigerian commission for spearheading the bilateral initiative, while expressing appreciation to the Indian delegation for bringing its expertise and institutional experience to the partnership.

Earlier, during Monday’s engagement with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the Executive Secretary of NHRC Nigeria had emphasised the complementary responsibilities of the judiciary and national human rights institutions in protecting fundamental freedoms, upholding the rule of law and ensuring access to justice.

Ojukwu identified complaint management, Alternative Dispute Resolution, security sector accountability, comparative legal research, digital rights, Artificial Intelligence ethics and environmental justice as priority areas for cooperation between both countries.

The Chief Justice reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigerian Judiciary to human rights protection and encouraged both commissions to exchange experiences and adopt best practices, particularly in strengthening safeguards for vulnerable groups, including women, children and persons with disabilities.

The Indian delegation described the engagement as significant to relations between the two countries, noting that the MoU represented a first-of-its-kind institutional partnership for India’s National Human Rights Commission.

The agreement is expected to promote sustained institutional exchanges, strengthen complaint-handling mechanisms, improve professional capacity and encourage comparative research into legal and policy approaches to human rights protection.

The partnership also comes at a time when national human rights institutions face increasing demands to address abuses linked to security operations, discrimination, environmental degradation, digital surveillance and the misuse of emerging technologies.

For Nigeria, the collaboration offers an opportunity to strengthen its human rights enforcement architecture through international knowledge-sharing while reinforcing the independence and operational effectiveness of its national commission.

Fagbemi, however, cautioned that the ultimate benchmark of the agreement must go beyond official engagements and institutional exchanges to deliver tangible improvements in the lives of citizens, especially those most vulnerable to violations and denied access to justice.

He wished the Indian delegation a productive stay in Nigeria and expressed confidence that the partnership would advance the shared commitment of both countries to human dignity, justice and the protection of fundamental rights.

Nigeria, India Sign Landmark Human Rights Pact, Fagbemi Backs Stronger Institutional Independence

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NSCDC Strengthens Gender Policy Implementation, Trains Officers on SGBV, Digital Safety

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7 hours ago

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November 10, 2026

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NSCDC Strengthens Gender Policy Implementation, Trains Officers on SGBV, Digital Safety

By: Michael Mike

Corps partners SPRING, FCDO, TechHer to promote women’s participation in peacebuilding, tackle technology-facilitated violence

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has intensified efforts to combat sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), strengthen women’s participation in security decision-making and promote digital safety among young people through the implementation of its Gender Policy II.

The Commandant-General of the Corps, Prof. Ahmed Audi, stated this at a two-day Gender, Women, Peace and Security capacity-building training organised at the NSCDC College and Support Staff Service, Udege, Nasarawa State.

The training was organised in collaboration with Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING), with support from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Audi, who delivered his keynote address through a representative, said the policy provided a framework for mainstreaming gender considerations into the Corps’ operations, personnel management, leadership structure and community engagement.

He stressed the need for effective prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence, including conflict-related abuses and technology-facilitated violence.

The Commandant-General also called for increased participation of women in peacebuilding and security decision-making, equal opportunities within the Corps and stronger partnerships with traditional institutions, government agencies, civil society organisations and development partners.

He urged commands and personnel, particularly Gender Desk Officers, to ensure effective coordination, timely reporting, appropriate referrals, monitoring and accountability in handling gender-related cases.

Audi described the implementation of the policy as a collective responsibility requiring sustained commitment across all levels of the Corps.

In a goodwill message, the Osu Ajiri of Edege Chiefdom, Alhaji Suleiman Ahmed Eko IV, commended the NSCDC for its presence in the community, saying its operations had strengthened the sense of security among residents, particularly farmers.

The traditional ruler pledged the support of his council in addressing gender-based violence, describing the protection of the community as a priority.

Earlier, the Commander of the College, ACG Jamilu Indabawa, said collaboration among relevant stakeholders was critical to achieving effective implementation of the gender policy.

The Gender Equality, Diversity and Social Inclusion Lead of SPRING, Mrs Amina Akano-Bello, said the training was designed to promote peaceful and resilient communities through early identification and response to gender-based violence, as well as the inclusion of women and young people in leadership.

Also, the NSCDC National Headquarters Gender Unit Adviser, DCC Ajet Kemi, provided participants with insights into the different forms of sexual and gender-based violence, their societal implications and preventive measures.

A retired Assistant Commandant-General, Ahmed Abodurin, who facilitated a session on institutional ethics in gender policy implementation, emphasised professionalism, accountability, gender sensitivity and adherence to institutional standards.

Beyond the capacity-building exercise, the Corps partnered TechHer, an organisation promoting women’s advancement through technology, to extend digital safety awareness to schools in Udege.

The outreach, themed “Stop Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence”, educated students on the dangers of digital abuse, responsible online behaviour and measures for staying safe in digital spaces.

Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Interior, Nasarawa State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Nasarawa State Ministry of Justice and Gammuo International also delivered goodwill messages, reaffirming the importance of collective action in advancing gender equality, peace and security.

NSCDC Strengthens Gender Policy Implementation, Trains Officers on SGBV, Digital Safety

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Bank customer alleges N2.59m theft from two GTBank accounts

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9 hours ago

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November 10, 2026

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Bank customer alleges N2.59m theft from two GTBank accounts

By: Michael Mike

A customer of Guaranty Trust Bank, Stella Adepegba, has accused the bank of negligence after fraudsters allegedly stole N2.59m from two accounts belonging to her and her daughter within 24 days.

Adepegba said the incidents occurred on October 8 and November 1, 2026, with the perpetrators allegedly transferring funds without authorisation or security notifications.

She accused the bank of failing to refund the money despite repeated complaints and assurances that the matter would be resolved.

According to her, the first incident involved her daughter, Victoria Adepegba, whose Child Saver’s Account was allegedly compromised on October 8 at about 8pm.

She explained that N2.507m was transferred through the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Instant Payment channel in four transactions, leaving less than N2,000 in the account.

Adepegba said N399,000, N398,000 and N220,000 were transferred to a Moniepoint account bearing the name Abdulmalik Idris, while another N1.49m went to a GoMoney account bearing the name Zainab Ibrahim.

She alleged that no debit alerts were received, adding that a GTBank employee informed her of the transactions and offered to block the account after the money had already been withdrawn.

The complainant said she reported the incident at the bank’s Kubwa branch in Abuja on October 9 and was instructed to document the unauthorised transactions.

However, she alleged that the bank subsequently sent an email attributing the transactions to compromised login credentials, an explanation she rejected.

Adepegba said another N80,000 was fraudulently transferred from her personal GTBank account on November 1 to a FairMoney account bearing the name Jamilu Ahmad, bringing the cumulative loss to N2.587m.

“GTB could not explain how the hackers successfully stole my money despite changing my account’s log-in details after the attack on my daughter’s account. The bank must refund the stolen funds and go after those who masterminded the fraud,” she said.

She insisted that her mobile phone, SIM card and ATM card were in her possession during both incidents, adding that she neither disclosed her banking credentials nor received OTP requests.

“The implication of these targeted attacks on my bank accounts is that no customer’s funds are safe with GTB, and if anything happens, the bank will not accept responsibility or offer any succour whatsoever,” she lamented.

She stated that a compliance officer, Innocent Ukatu, and the bank’s media consultant, Cornelius Onuoha, initially assured her that the complaint would be resolved.

Reacting to the incident, the Chief Communications Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Mrs Oyinade Adegite, said the incidents had been investigated and feedback provided to the customer.

She attributed the compromise to customer-side security vulnerabilities, explaining that fraudsters increasingly deploy sophisticated phishing techniques to obtain banking credentials.

“Immediately this came up, it was escalated and investigated, and feedback has been given,” she said.

Adegite explained that customers could unknowingly compromise their accounts by clicking malicious links that install malware that can capture sensitive information.

“Now it’s a phishing link you might click on that sometimes would actually install malware on your phone,” she said.

She maintained that the bank had implemented the necessary security safeguards, including two-factor authentication, and insisted the compromise originated on the customer’s end.

“All the measures the bank has to put in place for us, 2FA, everything was done. So, the compromise came clearly from the customer,” she stated.

However, she expressed sympathy for the losses and said she would follow up on the second incident to explore possible intervention.

The allegations come amid regulatory scrutiny of Nigerian banks over consumer protection and compliance failures.

An earlier analysis of audited financial statements showed that Guaranty Trust Holding Company, GTBank’s parent company, incurred N383.65m in regulatory penalties in Nigeria in 2024.

The sanctions included N56m for consumer protection violations, N160.4m following a Central Bank of Nigeria mystery shopping exercise, N149.25m for compliance-related issues and bank email returns, and N18m following a foreign exchange examination.

Bank customer alleges N2.59m theft from two GTBank accounts

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