Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
The killing of Alaramma Malam Sani, the ratib of the main Juma’a Mosque in Mahuta town, Dandume Local Government Area of Katsina State, has sent shockwaves across southern Katsina, reigniting deep fears over insecurity and casting fresh doubt on the effectiveness of existing peace arrangements with armed groups. The respected Islamic cleric was abducted on Saturday evening while returning from a visit to his mother in Kadisau community, Faskari Local Government Area. By Sunday, confirmation emerged that he had been killed by his abductors, plunging his community and the wider region into mourning.
Residents of Mahuta described Alaramma Malam Sani as a gentle but influential religious leader whose guidance extended beyond the mosque. As ratib, he occupied a central spiritual role, leading congregational prayers and providing counsel on religious and social matters. News of his death spread quickly through Dandume and neighbouring communities, triggering grief, fear and anger among residents who say they have endured years of violent attacks, kidnappings and broken promises of peace.
According to local sources, the cleric was intercepted along a rural road linking Faskari and Dandume LGAs, a stretch long considered dangerous despite repeated assurances of calm from authorities. Witnesses said armed men, believed to be bandits, stopped him during the journey and took him away on motorcycles shortly after dusk. Community leaders reportedly mobilised immediately, reaching out through intermediaries in an effort to establish contact and explore possible negotiations for his release. Those efforts, however, failed to save his life.
The confirmation that Alaramma Malam Sani was killed has intensified scrutiny of peace agreements reportedly reached between local authorities and armed groups in parts of southern Katsina. In recent months, officials had pointed to Dandume and Faskari as examples of areas where dialogue and informal truces had reduced violence. The killing of a prominent cleric under such circumstances has now undermined those claims, with many residents arguing that the agreements offered only an illusion of safety.
Community elders said the attack represents a dangerous escalation, noting that clerics and traditional figures were once considered off-limits, even by armed groups. The targeting of a senior religious leader, they warned, signals a collapse of moral boundaries that once restrained violence. For ordinary villagers, the message is chilling: if respected clerics can be abducted and killed, no one is truly safe.
Religious leaders across Katsina State have condemned the killing, describing it as a grave violation of both Islamic values and communal norms. Several clerics warned that attacks on religious figures risk inflaming tensions and eroding the role of faith leaders as mediators in conflict-prone areas. They called on authorities to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice, stressing that accountability is essential to restoring public confidence.
Security analysts say the incident highlights the inherent weaknesses of peace deals that are not backed by sustained security presence and clear enforcement mechanisms. While dialogue can reduce violence temporarily, analysts argue it often collapses when armed groups perceive opportunities to act without consequences. The killing in Katsina, they say, underscores how quickly fragile truces can unravel, particularly in rural areas where state authority remains limited.
The Katsina State Government has long defended a dual approach of military operations and negotiated engagement, arguing that dialogue was necessary to reduce bloodshed and allow communities to recover. Critics, however, contend that such arrangements are frequently opaque and unevenly implemented, leaving civilians exposed when agreements are violated. Following the cleric’s death, calls have grown louder for a reassessment of the strategy, with residents urging authorities to prioritise consistent security patrols and intelligence-led operations.
Beyond the immediate tragedy, the killing has revived fears about travel along rural roads in southern Katsina. Farmers, traders and religious leaders depend on these routes for daily life, yet many now avoid movement after dark or travel in groups out of fear of ambush. The death of Alaramma Malam Sani has reinforced the perception that even routine journeys carry mortal risk, deepening social and economic disruption in already vulnerable communities.
Human rights advocates argue that lasting peace will require more than reactive security measures or ad hoc negotiations. They point to chronic poverty, unemployment and weak governance as underlying factors that sustain banditry across the north-west. Each high-profile killing, they warn, deepens trauma and resentment, increasing the risk that communities may resort to self-help or vigilantism if they feel abandoned by the state.
For the people of Mahuta, the loss is both personal and symbolic. Preparations for the cleric’s burial were marked by sorrow and subdued anger, as residents questioned how a man dedicated to peace and faith could be so brutally killed. Many demanded answers about how the abduction occurred, why existing peace arrangements failed, and what concrete steps would be taken to prevent similar tragedies.
As Katsina mourns yet another victim of violent insecurity, the killing of Alaramma Malam Sani stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of peace in the region. Despite assurances of calm and dialogue, armed violence continues to claim lives and erode trust. For grieving communities in Dandume and Faskari, the hope is that this tragedy will prompt decisive action, not just renewed promises, toward restoring safety and dignity to everyday life.
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