Prominent Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has warned against jeopardising ongoing peace agreements between communities in Katsina State and leaders of bandit groups.

Gumi, a long-time advocate of dialogue as a pathway to ending banditry, restated his position following recent peace talks in Matazu, Faskari, and Sabuwa local government areas, where several wanted bandit kingpins were reportedly present.

In a post on his Facebook page on Saturday, he urged both government and security agencies to protect the fragile truce, advising that armed groups be treated with the same reintegration approach once adopted for Niger Delta militants.

“Alhamdulillah. News has come that today, Sabuwa Local Government has also held a peace settlement with the bandits in the forests to establish peace throughout the entire local government area… May the security agencies avoid destroying this peace agreement but instead teach them how to live in peace, just as was done with the Niger Delta militants,” he wrote.

But former senator and rights activist, Shehu Sani, has strongly criticised the initiative, arguing that dialogue with notorious bandits only emboldens them.

Sani said past peace deals in Katsina and Zamfara collapsed despite interventions from mediators, including Sheikh Gumi, leaving communities more vulnerable.

“Bandits who have killed thousands, kidnapped innocent people, and raped women should not be rewarded with dialogue. They should be prosecuted or outrightly eliminated,” he said, stressing that justice, non-negotiations, is the only sustainable solution.

Treat bandits like Niger Delta militants – Gumi backs dialogue option