In a renewed push for lasting peace, the Chairman of Funtua Local Government Area in Katsina State, Hon. Abdu Goya, has reached out to armed Fulani groups that recently agreed to a truce with local communities after years of violent clashes.
The peace mission, which took place in parts of Funtua, was part of Goya’s broader effort to strengthen reconciliation between Hausa residents and Fulani herders who had previously been at odds over land disputes and security tensions.
According to sources familiar with the meeting, Goya’s dialogue centred on restoring mutual trust, promoting community safety, and deepening the fragile peace that has begun to take root in the region.
Speaking during the outreach, Goya reportedly emphasized that sustainable peace could only be achieved through “honest dialogue and forgiveness.”
He added that his visit was not just symbolic but aimed at “bridging long-standing divides” that had cost many innocent lives.
“We cannot continue to live in fear and division. The time has come for us to rebuild trust and show the world that peace is possible in Funtua,” he was quoted as saying.
As part of the discussions, Goya also appealed to the armed groups to release all individuals who were kidnapped during past hostilities, stressing that such gestures would strengthen confidence between both sides.
His visit came at a time when tensions in northern Nigeria remain high, following renewed attacks by suspected bandits in neighbouring areas.
Two community leaders were reportedly killed and several residents abducted last Thursday in Doguwar Dorawa, a farming settlement near Guga in Bakori Local Government Area.
Witnesses said the assailants stormed the village around 10 p.m., killing two brothers, Alhaji Bishir and Alhaji Surajo, despite an existing peace agreement.
The attackers allegedly rode into the area on motorcycles, parked them in nearby bushes, and carried out the assault on foot to avoid detection.
“They killed the two men in cold blood and operated freely for over an hour,” a resident, Mahadi Danbinta Guga, told reporters, describing the attack as “a betrayal of the peace process.”
The attackers are believed to be loyal to notorious bandit leaders Idi Abasu Aiki and Kwashen Garwa, who operate around Bakori and its neighbouring villages.
While Doguwar Dorawa came under siege, another raid occurred simultaneously in Layin ‘Yannehu, where dozens of livestock were rustled.
Similar attacks have been recorded in Ganjar, Alhazawa, and Gidan Nagari in recent weeks, leaving more than 40 people abducted and several families displaced.
Despite the rising insecurity, Goya expressed optimism that continuous dialogue would eventually lead to calm across Funtua and other troubled communities in Katsina.
“Peace may take time, but every genuine step counts. Our people deserve safety, and we will keep engaging until normalcy returns,” the council boss affirmed.
AFRIPOST reports that the local peace initiative comes amid growing international concern over Nigeria’s security crisis, following President Donald Trump’s recent warning of possible U.S. sanctions and the country’s designation as one of “particular concern” for human rights and religious freedom violations.
Observers believe Goya’s move could serve as a model for other northern leaders seeking to negotiate peace with armed groups instead of relying solely on military intervention.