Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
In a harrowing reminder of the persistent insecurity plaguing parts of northern Nigeria, an Islamic cleric was brutally killed by suspected bandits in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, even as previously announced peace agreements and community-level mediation efforts appear to have faltered. The incident has provoked deep anguish among residents and renewed criticism of the effectiveness of peace deals with armed groups in the region.
The cleric, identified by local residents as Alaramma Malam Bello Abubakar, served as a respected assistant imam and Qur’anic teacher at the JIBWIS Jumu’ah mosque in Layin Dan’auta community. He was attacked and killed on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, while gathering firewood for his home in Kuyello Ward, a rural area that has endured recurring violence and kidnappings tied to banditry. Locals described the beloved religious leader’s death as senseless and deeply destabilising for a community already on edge.
Eyewitnesses said the attack was unprovoked: Malam Bello Abubakar was ambushed while performing a mundane daily task, illustrating the unpredictable nature of violence in the area. Residents quickly shared photos of the aftermath and confirmed his identity, highlighting his long-standing role in leading Qur’anic tafsir (interpretation) and congregational prayers, particularly enhancing spiritual life and education in the community.
The killing has compounded the sense of insecurity in Birnin Gwari, where banditry — including mass kidnappings, ransom demands, cattle rustling and arson — has dominated life for years. Local sources report that at least seven other residents remain in captivity after being abducted months earlier by the same criminal elements, with no clear updates on their fate or rescue efforts.
Community leaders and ordinary residents have expressed frustration that the attack came despite recent peace truce announcements. Over the past year, authorities and local stakeholders had promoted community-level peace pacts with various armed groups, aimed at reducing kidnappings and killing in exchange for negotiated terms. However, the latest violence starkly underlines the fragility of such arrangements on the ground.
“Where are these peace agreements, the guarantors and peace committees now?” asked one resident, reflecting widespread disillusionment. Many in Layin Dan’auta and adjacent settlements believe that the truce mechanisms and mediators — often composed of local chiefs, religious leaders and informal negotiators — have failed to deliver tangible safety for civilians caught between criminal factions and under-resourced security forces.
The brutal slaying has stirred fresh debate in both local and national media about the practical value of negotiated peace with bandit groups in northwest Nigeria. Critics argue that informal truces, often brokered without robust security guarantees or enforcement mechanisms, risk granting armed groups de facto legitimacy and emboldening them to commit further atrocities when it suits their interests. Others stress that the underlying drivers of banditry — including poverty, unemployment, and the absence of government services — must be addressed in tandem with any peace talks to achieve sustainable calm.
Birnin Gwari has long been a flashpoint in Nigeria’s broader struggle against armed banditry, which has affected swathes of the northwest for much of the past decade. The region has seen repeated kidnappings for ransom, cattle theft, and violent raids on villages and farms. Despite multiple military and police operations ostensibly aimed at suppressing these criminal networks, insurgent groups have continued to operate with relative impunity in some forested and remote areas.
Past peace accords involving bandit leaders — sometimes even publicly recognised by state authorities — have been touted as breakthroughs when they result in temporary reductions in violence. Yet residents lament that such pacts often collapse without warning, leading to renewed attacks that catch communities off guard and erode trust in both formal government and grassroots peace committees.
Security analysts have pointed out that many of these negotiated truces lack clear monitoring and accountability frameworks, and are rarely backed by sufficient government resources to ensure that armed groups adhere to agreed conditions. In the absence of sustained security presence and economic opportunities in affected areas, villagers remain vulnerable to coercion and threats from outlawed groups that exploit their insecurity.
In the immediate aftermath of the cleric’s killing, local leaders called for urgent government intervention to protect vulnerable communities and to pursue genuine accountability for perpetrators. Some have implored state and federal authorities to reinforce patrols, establish outposts in high-risk zones, and intensify intelligence-led operations to disrupt criminal networks that have long terrorised rural Kaduna.
Meanwhile, family members and congregants have begun organising a communal burial and prayer service for Malam Bello Abubakar, honouring his contributions to Islamic teaching and community cohesion. Their mourning has been tinged with anger, as questions about the effectiveness of existing peace frameworks are amplified by the stark reality of lives lost.
Civil society groups have also seized on the incident to demand a reassessment of how peace negotiations with non-state armed groups are conducted in Nigeria’s troubled northwest. They argue for a more holistic approach that pairs security responses with genuine dialogue, socio-economic development, and reintegration programmes that address the root causes of banditry and reduce incentives for violence.
As Birnin Gwari grapples with the latest tragedy, both citizens and commentators are looking for clearer leadership and more dependable protection. The horrific killing of a cleric — a figure typically associated with peace and moral guidance — underscores the human cost of prolonged insecurity and the urgency of finding durable solutions that protect lives and livelihoods in communities long overshadowed by violence.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments