By Muazu Hassan, Culled from Katsina Times
A prominent bandit leader, Abdu Lankai, who had reportedly embraced a peace deal in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State, has been killed following a violent clash linked to a failed reconciliation meeting.
Katsina Times gathered from multiple sources that the crisis began between Friday and Sunday last week, arising from a dispute between Lankai and rival bandit factions loyal to Dogo Rabe and a commander known as Black, said to be an associate of notorious bandit leader Bello Turji.
According to the sources, the disagreement stemmed from accusations that Abdu Lankai intercepted stolen livestock belonging to the Dogo Rabe and Black factions and prevented them from passing through his area of influence en route to their camps in Zamfara State.
Abdu Lankai had reportedly gained prominence among bandit groups operating across parts of Zamfara State and the Maradi axis of Niger Republic after accepting a peace agreement that barred armed groups from carrying out attacks in Jibia Local Government Area. He was said to have enforced the agreement strictly, warning bandits against operating freely within Jibia.
Dogo Rabe, a native of Jibia whose camp is located in Zamfara State, was reported to have rejected the peace deal and remained aligned with Bello Turji.
Sources in the forest corridor between Jibia and Zamfara told Katsina Times that clashes between the rival camps began on Friday and escalated into Saturday before senior bandit leaders, including Adamu Aleru and Bello Turji, reportedly intervened and ordered a ceasefire. This intervention led to the scheduling of a peace meeting.
Katsina Times learned that a reconciliation meeting involving Abdu Lankai, Dogo Rabe and Black was convened on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. However, the meeting reportedly turned violent when Dogo Rabe’s faction arrived with a larger number of fighters, attacked Lankai’s group, killed several of his men, and captured him alive.
Sources said Abdu Lankai was later killed on Tuesday night.
Abdu Lankai was widely regarded as the central figure behind the peace arrangement in Jibia Local Government Area, which residents say had significantly reduced attacks and improved security in the area. Community members told Katsina Times that he played a role in neutralising several bandits who attempted to undermine the peace process.
With his death, Katsina Times reports that the future of the Jibia peace deal remains uncertain, as its main enforcer is no longer alive.
Efforts to obtain official comments from Jibia Local Government authorities and security agencies were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. However, residents of communities where Abdu Lankai was based told Katsina Times that gunshots were heard in the area, allegedly fired by his followers amid chants suggesting calls for revenge.
Katsina Times notes that Jibia Local Government Area had been cited as a model for negotiated peace with armed groups, but observers say only time will tell whether the fragile calm can be sustained following Abdu Lankai’s death.
Culled from Katsina Times
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A peace deal with a bunch of criminal groups which has no single leader who doesn’t have the capacity to do and undo, can never be a sustainable one.
Former Kaduna State governor (El-Rufai) has been vindicated!