By Our Reporter
In a dramatic shift that could reshape Nigeria’s fight against insecurity, Fulani leaders in Zamfara State have called for an end to violence — not with bullets, but with justice.
Amid the dense forests and battered communities of Zamfara, a new hope is stirring. At a high-stakes sensitisation forum held on May 4 in Gusau, the nation witnessed a rare and powerful plea for peace from Fulani stakeholders who have long been entangled — and, many argue, wrongly profiled — in Nigeria’s decade-long war against banditry.
The meeting, convened by the Commander of 1 Brigade, Nigerian Army, brought together Fulani leaders from all 14 LGAs, alongside security chiefs and members of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN). Their message: “We are not all bandits.”
“Every time they see a Fulani man, they see a bandit. Is that justice?” – Mallam Salisu Umar, herder from Maru
The forum exposed deep-rooted grievances — arbitrary killings, cattle thefts, and systemic exclusion — which Fulani leaders say have pushed many of their youths into militancy. Harrowing testimonies told of children barred from schools, entire villages razed by vigilantes, and law-abiding herders losing hundreds of cattle without compensation or investigation.
“We are being cut off from society. Our crime? Being Fulani,” said Mallam Haruna Dogo from Anka.
Breaking Point and Breakthrough
In a move that shocked many, notorious bandit leaders — including Saidu Naeka, Jimmi Smally, Kabiru Yankusa, Bello Truji, and Alhaji Nashama — have expressed readiness to drop arms under a genuine peace deal. Some, including Ado Alero and Madele, even sent emissaries to the Gusau meeting.
“They want peace, but they need safety and dignity,” a source close to the dialogue revealed.
Within days of the meeting, over 100 kidnap victims were released in Moriki and Kango Forests, some freed directly by bandits as a gesture of goodwill. “We didn’t pay ransom,” said Rabiatu Halliru, a freed victim. “They said their leaders want peace.”
But Not Everyone Is Convinced
Maj.-Gen. Oluyinka Soyele, Theatre Commander of Operation FANSAN YANMA, sounded a note of caution.
“Most of the bandits are not sincere. When military pressure increases, they surrender. When it eases, they regroup.”
Soyele acknowledged the existence of ethnic militias like the Yansakai but stressed the need for sincerity from all sides.
“If attacks stop from one side, we can contain the other.”
A Call for Action: Disband Yansakai, Reopen Markets, Build Trust
Fulani leaders proposed bold reforms: dismantle unregulated vigilante groups, reopen blocked cattle markets, restore grazing corridors, and invest in boreholes, schools, and health centers in Fulani settlements. They also called for equal treatment under the law — “Justice must not depend on ethnicity,” said one elder.
MACBAN Chairman in Zamfara, Alhaji Bello Maiturare, pledged to lead future engagements with bandits and push for their full reintegration if the government delivers on its promises.
The Bigger Picture: Dialogue, Not Just Firepower
Security analyst Zagazola Makama warned that military might alone cannot defeat what has become a complex socio-political crisis.
“This is no longer just a security issue. It’s a trust issue, a justice issue,” he said. “We must combine force with foresight.”
Makama appealed to the National Security Adviser, DSS, and the National Counter Terrorism Centre to back community-led peacebuilding, noting that recent gains in Katsina, Kaduna, and Benue were born from such non-kinetic strategies.
In a tragic reminder of the stakes, tensions recently flared again in Birnin Magaji LGA, where a bandit kingpin banned 25 communities from farming after vigilantes allegedly killed two of his relatives.
“We are tired. Our children are tired. Let this be the beginning of the end,” pleaded Mallam Abubakar Sani from Zurmi.
The Road Ahead
The time for talking is now — and it must be backed by action. Fulani leaders have extended an olive branch. The question is: Will Nigeria accept it?
“The moment is ripe for a decisive, united strategy that blends security with reconciliation,” said Makama. “Nigeria deserves peace. The people of Zamfara deserve peace. Let us not waste this chance.”
Editor’s Note: As communities call for healing and warlords flirt with surrender, this may be the turning point in a long and bloody chapter. But peace, like trust, must be earned — and protected.
@Zagazola Makama
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