Non-kinetic team engages bandit leaders, communities in Birnin Gwari to strengthen peace initiative
By: Zagazola Makama
In continuation of non-kinetic peace engagements across the 1 Division area of operation, representatives of key security and peace institutions on Tuesday visited Kuyello and surrounding communities in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State to sustain dialogue with repentant bandits and community leaders.
The visit, conducted on Nov. 11, was jointly led by representatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and some Islamic clerics from the Kaduna State Peace Committee, with participation from 1 Division Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to sources, the team arrived Kuyello at about 11:30 a.m., where a meeting was held with key community stakeholders and repentant bandit leaders.
The Chairman of the committee urged the repentant bandits to remain committed to the peace agreement and desist from attacks, kidnappings, and preventing locals from accessing markets and farmlands.
He reminded them that the peace initiative was built on mutual trust and community safety.
During the engagement, the team learned of an unresolved conflict between vigilantes from Kompany village in the Layin Dan Auta area and residents of Layin Dan Lasa village, reportedly under the control of bandit leader Kachalla Risku.
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The feud was traced to an earlier incident at a mining site on Oct. 16, 2025, where a Fulani local was killed and his weapon seized, leading to retaliatory attacks and kidnappings.
The sources noted that Risku agreed to release all kidnapped persons and return a police rifle in his custody.
However, he demanded the return of four motorcycles allegedly seized by locals during the October incident.
Community leaders, including the Hakimi, testified that the bandits had largely kept to their commitments under the peace accord, attributing the recent tensions to the refusal of residents of Layin Dan Auta to comply with the peace deal.
The team further stopped at Rikau and Rima villages during its return to Kaduna to meet other bandit leaders, including Kabiru and Dandukununu, who also pledged to uphold the peace agreement. Palliatives were handed over to them as part of confidence-building measures.
The delegation described the visit as successful, noting that it was aimed at preventing a relapse into violence and consolidating gains from the ongoing dialogue process.
At the end of the engagement, several resolutions were reached, including a directive for the Birnin Gwari Local Government Council and the Emirate Council to facilitate peace talks between the warring communities.
It was also resolved that all kidnapped victims in the custody of Risku be released immediately, while the police rifle held by his group should be handed over to security agencies without delay.
The team returned safely to Kaduna at about 7:50 p.m. after a hitch-free mission.