Civil Society Coalition Hails Katsina Peace Deal, Reports Sharp Decline in Insecurity
By Mu’awuya Bala Idris Katsina
A coalition of civil society organisations in Katsina State has thrown its weight behind the ongoing peace deal with armed bandits, describing it as a successful, community-driven initiative that has significantly reduced violence and restored normalcy across several frontline local government areas of the state.
The group, under the banner of the Civil Society Coalition for Peace in Katsina State, made this known on Thursday during a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Katsina State Council. It said findings from its investigations and testimonies from affected communities show that the dialogue-based approach is delivering tangible security gains.
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Rejecting criticisms of the peace process, the coalition stressed that dialogue, reconciliation and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are globally recognised tools for resolving protracted conflicts. It noted that the Katsina initiative has demonstrated how sustained engagement can succeed where the use of force alone has produced limited results, with reported incidents of kidnapping and violent attacks dropping by about 90 per cent since the process began.
According to the coalition, the improved security situation has enabled farmers to return to their farmlands, made travel safer on previously dangerous roads, and led to the reopening of schools and primary healthcare centres. It added that hospitals are recording fewer gunshot-related cases, while many internally displaced persons are gradually returning to their ancestral homes, particularly in areas such as Batsari, Jibia, Danmusa and Dutsinma.
The group also observed that the peace deal has helped rebuild trust between Hausa and Fulani communities, as well as between farmers and pastoralists, fostering renewed social harmony and peaceful coexistence. It warned against attempts by what it described as saboteurs to undermine the process, urging all stakeholders to protect the gains recorded so far.
The coalition commended the Katsina State Government under Governor Dikko Umar Radda, PhD, CON, for its proactive security measures, including the establishment of the Security Watch Corps, enhanced local government autonomy, and increased investment in education and agriculture. It called on other northern states and the Federal Government to prioritise non-kinetic, community-based strategies in addressing insecurity nationwide, stressing that military force alone cannot end banditry and terrorism.
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The statement was jointly signed by Comrade Shamsudeen Salisu Na Alhaji of the Citizens Accountability and Governance Forum; Comrade Bishir Dauda of the Katsina Youth Enlightenment Crusade on Peace and Development; Babangida Mai Kuli Abukur of the RIBACHA Support Group; and Hassan Dogon Fachi Batsari of the Movement for the Restoration of Northern Dignity, Batsari Chapter.
