January 11, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel | News
Armed bandits on Saturday evening reportedly raided a Maulud religious gathering in Yanshantuna community, Makera Ward of Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area, Katsina State, robbing residents and looting property—just days after authorities announced a peace deal aimed at restoring calm in the area.
According to Katsina-based security analyst Malam Bakatsine, the attackers surrounded worshippers who had gathered for the Islamic event, forcibly confiscated their mobile phones and cash, and went on to loot a phone-charging shop in the community before fleeing.
The incident has raised serious concerns among residents, coming shortly after official claims that a peace agreement had been reached between local stakeholders and armed groups in Dutsin-Ma LGA.
Bakatsine said the attack has deepened doubts about the credibility and enforcement of the peace deal, with residents questioning whether any effective monitoring mechanisms are in place.
“People are asking what concrete steps have been taken to monitor and enforce this peace deal to ensure that civilians are actually protected on the ground,” he said.
Community members fear that in the absence of visible security presence and accountability, armed groups may continue to operate freely despite government assurances of peace.
The latest attack comes amid growing controversy in Katsina State following reports that the state government has initiated steps to secure the release of dozens of suspected bandits currently facing trial.
SUNTV Global Channel recalls that an official document dated January 2, 2026, and marked “SECRET,” revealed that the Katsina State Ministry of Justice wrote to the state’s Chief Judge, requesting intervention to facilitate the release of detained suspects as part of the peace process.
The letter, signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Abdur-Rahman Umar (Esq.), disclosed that a list of 48 individuals accused of banditry-related offences had been forwarded to the Ministry of Justice by the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs.
According to the document, the proposed release of the suspects was intended to serve as a condition for the continuation of the peace accord between frontline local governments and the armed groups.
The ministry further revealed that while a few of the suspects had been arraigned before the Federal High Court, most were still awaiting trial at various Magistrate Courts across the state. Another list containing the names of about 22 inmates facing trial before different High Courts was also submitted for possible release under the same arrangement.
The Ministry of Justice urged the Chief Judge to take “necessary action,” citing the powers of the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee (ACJMC) under Section 371(2) of the Katsina State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2021.
The raid on the Maulud gathering has intensified public anxiety, with residents warning that without strict enforcement and genuine security measures, the so-called peace deal risks becoming ineffective—leaving communities exposed to continued attacks.
— SUNTV Global Channel
