Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
A key figure in the community-driven peace process in Jibia Local Government Area (LGA), Katsina State, has been captured by a rival armed faction, sparking renewed insecurity in a region that had seen a fragile reduction in violence. Abdu Lankai, a bandit leader widely credited with upholding a peace agreement that limited attacks on communities in Jibia, was taken into custody during a violent confrontation linked to a failed reconciliation meeting. In the clashes, seven members of Lankai’s group were killed, and several others were wounded, with at least two reported in critical condition in a Katsina hospital.
Sources in Jibia say the dispute began late last week between Lankai and rival factions loyal to Dogo Rabe and a commander known as Black, both reportedly aligned with the notorious bandit boss Bello Turji. Unlike Lankai, who had embraced the peace accord in Jibia, Rabe and Black allegedly rejected the initiative and openly opposed its tenets. Tensions between these groups, officials say, were aggravated by accusations that Lankai was sheltering an associate linked to arms procurement — allegedly after receiving about ₦100 million as a down payment from Rabe and Black’s factions.
According to sources who spoke with Daily Trust, the immediate flashpoint was an ostensibly arranged reconciliation meeting set for Tuesday, January 27, 2026. Lankai, Rabe and Black were expected to negotiate, but the session reportedly turned into a premeditated ambush. Rabe’s faction reportedly arrived with a substantial number of fighters, launching an attack that resulted in the deaths of several of Lankai’s men and his subsequent capture.
Before his abduction, Lankai had become a central figure in efforts to stabilise Jibia, an LGA that was one of the first in Katsina State to negotiate a peace deal with bandit groups in a bid to end violent raids on communities. Under the terms of that deal, Lankai enforced a prohibition on attacks in the area, earning both local praise and cautious optimism among residents who had suffered repeated assaults in previous years.
Rabe, originally from Jibia, is said to have relocated his camp to Zamfara State, where he linked up with Turji’s network. The schism grew deeper as internal rivalries intensified, culminating in last week’s clashes. Reports suggest that skirmishes between the factions began on Friday and escalated through Saturday, prompting interventions from senior bandit figures, including Adamu Aleru and Bello Turji, who reportedly called for a ceasefire.
In an audio message shared with media outlets including Katsina Times and Daily Trust, Turji acknowledged that Lankai was in his custody, extending condolences to the families of bandits killed during the operation. He urged the public to steer clear of the conflict, assuring that Lankai would be investigated and either freed if exonerated or “dealt with appropriately.”
The capture has stoked fears among local populations that the peace accord in Jibia, and similar agreements in other LGAs, may be at risk. Yusuf Sulaiman, Chairman of the Jibia Local Government Security Committee, described mounting anxiety in the community. Residents say the attack has disrupted a tenuous calm they had begun to enjoy after years of insecurity.
“We have initiated a period of prayer for divine assistance,” Sulaiman said, warning that if the crisis is not addressed, the peace agreement may collapse. Bashir Lawal, Secretary-General of the Jibia People’s Forum, echoed these concerns, noting that Lankai’s role in restraining raids was pivotal and that his detention is deeply regrettable for residents.
Similarly, Kabir Sani, Secretary of the Jibia Security Committee, framed the moment as one for reflection and intensified prayer. Community members reported hearing heavy gunfire near Lankai’s last known location, suggesting ongoing unrest and possible mobilisation by his supporters.
Attempts to obtain official comment from security authorities in Katsina were unsuccessful at the time of reporting. The situation remains fluid as residents await clearer updates on Lankai’s status and the future of the peace accords.
Security analyst Dr. Yahuza Getso contextualised the conflict as part of longstanding rivalries among bandit faction leaders. He highlighted that the incident underscores the fragility of negotiated peace in the region and the need for stronger mechanisms, including disarmament or tighter controls over armed groups involved in peace deals, to safeguard these agreements from internal fragmentation.
Getso also noted that information from relatives and close associates of Lankai suggests the immediate crisis may have, at least temporarily, been defused — though details remain unverified. For now, the capture has heightened calls for a comprehensive reassessment of the approach to community-led peace initiatives across Katsina’s affected areas, with growing demand for sustained engagement that prevents bandit factions from undermining negotiated settlements.
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