A peace arrangement in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State has been thrown into uncertainty following the capture of a key bandit figure, Abdu Lankai, by rival armed factions opposed to the deal.
Lankai, who had emerged as a central enforcer of the community-driven peace agreement in Jibia, was reportedly seized after a violent confrontation with rival groups, during which seven of his fighters were killed.
Several others loyal to him were said to have sustained gunshot wounds, with two currently in critical condition at a hospital in Katsina.
Sources in Jibia said the incident followed the collapse of efforts to reconcile Lankai with rival bandit leaders linked to factions loyal to Dogo Rabe and a commander known as Black. The two are alleged to be associates of notorious bandit kingpin Bello Turji and were said to have rejected the peace pact reached in Katsina communities.
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Lankai had gained prominence among armed groups operating across parts of Zamfara State and neighbouring Maradi in the Niger Republic after he embraced the peace deal, which prohibited bandit attacks in Jibia Local Government Area.
Jibia was among the first councils in Katsina to negotiate such an agreement, a model later adopted by other local government areas in the state.
The crisis reportedly began between Friday and Sunday last week after disagreements surfaced between Lankai and the rival factions.
According to sources, the dispute was linked to allegations that Lankai sheltered a bandit accomplice who was contracted to supply weapons after allegedly collecting about N100 million as a down payment from the Dogo Rabe and Black camps.
It was gathered that a reconciliation meeting involving Lankai, Dogo Rabe and Black was deceptively arranged on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, with the intention of luring Lankai out.
The meeting reportedly turned violent when the rival faction arrived with a large number of fighters, attacked Lankai’s men, killed several of them and captured him alive.
Before his capture, Lankai was said to have enforced the peace agreement strictly, banning bandit operations within Jibia. Dogo Rabe, a native of the area, reportedly rejected the deal and relocated his camp to neighbouring Zamfara State, where he aligned with Bello Turji.
Sources told Daily Trust that clashes between the rival groups started on Friday and escalated into Saturday before senior bandit figures, including Adamu Aleru and Bello Turji, allegedly intervened and ordered a ceasefire.
In an audio message sent to Katsina Times, Turji confirmed that Lankai is in his custody and offered condolences to families of bandits who lost their lives during the operation to capture him alive.
He also cautioned the public against interfering in the internal crisis, stating that Lankai would be investigated and either released if found innocent or dealt with accordingly.
The development has intensified calls for a reassessment of the peace deal in Jibia and other local government areas participating in the initiative.
Chairman of the Jibia Local Government Security Committee, Yusuf Sulaiman, said fear and uncertainty have gripped the area.
“Since the news of this incident broke, residents have been living in fear. We have declared a period of prayers for divine intervention because if this crisis remains unresolved, the peace deal may collapse,” he said.
Residents told Daily Trust that Lankai had played a critical role in suppressing bandit attempts to sabotage the peace process. Echoing this concern, Secretary-General of the Jibia People’s Forum, Bashir Lawal, said the community had turned to prayers and fasting.
“For the past year, we have enjoyed a fragile peace. His abduction is unfortunate, and if the process fails, many things could go wrong. Jibia’s peace deal remains the most effective among those signed in Katsina,” he said.
Similarly, the Secretary of the Jibia Security Committee, Kabir Sani, described the situation as a moment for sober reflection and prayers, adding that efforts were underway to secure Lankai’s release.
Residents living near Lankai’s base also reported hearing heavy gunfire allegedly from his followers, raising fears of possible mobilisation and reprisals.
Attempts to obtain official reactions from security agencies in Katsina State were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
Commenting on the situation, security analyst Dr. Yahuza Getso said Lankai and rival faction commanders had been in conflict for some time, noting that the latest incident highlights the pressure surrounding the peace initiative and the need for closer monitoring.
“This recent development underscores the importance of disarmament, or otherwise, of bandits who entered into peace agreements across the areas covered by the deal,” he said.
However, Getso added that information from Lankai’s relatives and close associates suggests that the issues have, for now, been resolved.
