Barely a day after hopeful reports emerged concerning alleged peace deals in parts of Nigeria's North-West, a resurgence of banditry shattered the fragile calm in Zamfara State. On Monday morning, approximately 40 worshippers were brutally kidnapped while observing early morning prayers at a mosque in Gidan Turbe village, Tsafe Local Government Area. Eyewitnesses reported that gunmen stormed the sacred building around 5:30 a.m. during dawn prayers, surrounded it, held individuals at gunpoint, and marched them away into the dense forest around the Gohori axis, deep within Tsafe.

This distressing development, according to critical stakeholders and local residents, starkly signals the collapse of recent peace agreements that both Katsina and Zamfara States had reportedly struck with armed bandit groups terrorizing the North-West. The community has been left devastated, especially as these peace talks were anticipated to bring much-needed relief and an end to years of relentless violence.

For instance, community leaders and bandits in Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State had reportedly signed a significant peace agreement on August 28, 2025. This pact, according to attendees, was envisioned as a monumental step towards ending years of violence, kidnapping, and cattle rustling across the North-West and the wider Northern region. Brokered by influential figures such as the Maradin Katsina and district head of Kurfi, Alhaji Mansur Amadu Kurfi, and local government chairman Babangida Abdullahi Kurfi, the agreement took place in Wurma forest, a known insecurity hotspot. Key bandit leaders, including Alhaji Usman Kachalla Ruga, Sani Muhindinge, Yahaya Sani (Hayyu), and Alhaji Shu’aibu, had pledged to cease hostilities, release captives, and permit farmers to return to their lands without fear.

However, less than a month after this promising deal was inked, the Zamfara attack demonstrated the inherent challenges. Local sources, echoing sentiment from community leaders, attributed the failure of these agreements to the bandits' lack of a unified command structure and control. As one source articulated, "The bandits have no command, structure and control. You can negotiate with bandits in Katsina while they continue to strike in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Kaduna State," highlighting the localized and fragmented nature of these armed groups.

While security agencies in Zamfara State have yet to release an official statement regarding the Gidan Turbe mosque kidnapping, troops attached to Operation Fansan Yamman have been actively engaged in counter-terrorism efforts across the broader North-West theatre. They have conducted multiple operations aimed at foiling terrorist attacks and recovering illicit items in Katsina, Kebbi, and Zamfara States.

These operations include an ambush by troops of 17 Brigade FOB Mabai in Kankara LGA near Gatakawa village, where a motorcycle and mobile phone were recovered. In a separate incident, troops of FOB Danmusa responded to an ambush on Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel near Danmusa Forest, successfully repelling the attack, though tragically, one NSCDC operative sustained fatal gunshot wounds. Furthermore, troops of 8 Division Garrison engaged terrorists at Ungushi village in Kebbe LGA, forcing their retreat, with one civilian sustaining a gunshot wound. In Augie LGA of Kebbi State, troops, in conjunction with NSCDC, responded to terrorist activity in Tunga Dade, Mera village, where terrorists carted away a motorcycle before fleeing without contact. In Zamfara State itself, troops of 1 Brigade Team 7 on patrol at Mararaba Kyeware in Tsafe LGA pursued terrorists. Upon their return, the patrol team faced an ambush around Kuka, fighting through it but with two soldiers sustaining gunshot wounds. They were stabilized at Tsafe General Hospital before being moved to 1 Brigade Medical Centre.

Security sources confirm that these military operations remain ongoing, underscoring the persistent and complex security challenges facing the North-West region, despite attempts at brokering peace.