A notorious bandit leader, Isiya Kwashen Garwa, who was declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters, has reportedly accepted a peace deal in Katsina State.
Garwa, whose name appears among the 19 most-wanted terrorists and bandits in Nigeria, resurfaced in Hayin Gada community, Faskari Local Government Area, presenting himself as a supporter of dialogue.
The wanted bandit hails from Kamfanin Daudawa village in Faskari LGA and has long been associated with killings, kidnappings, and violent raids across forest belts in Katsina and neighbouring states.
A shift in tone from a feared warlord
Security analysts say Garwa was a key figure in the network of armed groups destabilising the North-West and North Central regions.
His operations often exploited weak state presence and porous borders to carry out deadly cross-border attacks.
Despite his violent track record, his decision to embrace peace talks is being viewed as a potential turning point in efforts to calm the region.
Local leaders and security stakeholders are closely weighing the implications of this sudden change.
Communities weigh hope against suspicion
The reaction in affected communities remains sharply divided.
For some residents, Garwa’s peace gesture offers hope of restoring normal life in villages battered by years of attacks.
Others, however, doubt his sincerity, citing the atrocities carried out under his command.
Many fear the move could be a tactical ploy, warning that “history has shown how fragile such peace deals can be.”
