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A human rights lawyer has warned that recent peace meetings in Katsina State look more like shows of power than true talks for peace. Bulama Bukarti said the gatherings give criminals a stage to frighten people and to display weapons in public. Read Our Last Post: 16-Year-Old Mother Speaks Out About Pain, Shame and Hope After Giving Birth at a Young Age
The meetings took place in parts of Katsina state that have suffered many attacks. People from Jibia and Batsari local government areas met with armed groups. Videos and pictures from those meetings show men carrying guns and other dangerous weapons as they sat and spoke. The images have shocked many Nigerians and raised new fears about security in the region. Read Our Trending Topic: Fresh Changes Shake Up Nigeria's National Youth Service Corps: How the New Rules on Wages and School Certificates Will Change Things for Young Graduates
Bulama Bukarti told reporters that when the gunmen walk around with heavy weapons and allow themselves to be filmed, they are trying to frighten the public. He said the act is deliberate. He compared it to a show of force. He said this behaviour sends a clear message. It tells citizens and the government that these criminals believe they cannot be stopped.
The lawyer also warned that the public display of such weapons and the so-called peace talks have no legal backing. He said it is illegal for people to own and flash such arms. He added that communities organising talks without state leadership only weakens the law. Bukarti said the meetings were not peace. He called them a form of surrender to criminals.
Not everyone agrees on how to respond. Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, a known Islamic scholar who has engaged with armed groups in the past, asked security agencies to be careful. He warned that if the talks are broken up by force, the violence could grow worse. Gumi said he feared a heavy-handed response could push the armed men back into violent action. His call for caution has been met with mixed feelings. Some say dialogue can calm violence, while others say it may reward criminals.
Many residents said they feel unsettled. People who live near the areas where the talks took place said they saw heavily armed men walking freely during the meetings. They said the men accepted being filmed. Many who saw the scenes said they felt frightened and unsafe. The images have been widely shared online and have not calmed people.
Officials in Katsina have argued that local peace efforts are part of a strategy to end attacks. The state government has spoken about talks, surrenders, and local deals in several councils. Some local leaders say these deals have led a number of fighters to lay down their arms in recent months. Yet reports from observers show that only some groups have handed over weapons, and others still move openly with guns. This gap raises questions about proper disarmament and the role of security forces.
Human rights groups and legal experts say there are serious risks in letting armed men parade with weapons at public events. They point out that display of arms can amount to intimidation. They warn that it might break trust in the state and its laws. These groups urge clear rules. They want the government to lead any talks, set clear conditions, and ensure that any disarmament is genuine and checked by security agencies.
Security analysts say the pictures from Jibia and Batsari raise wider concerns about how peace is being pursued. They note that when criminals make demands in exchange for peace, the terms often benefit the criminals. Some reports say bandit leaders have put forward lists of requests, from money to projects. Critics worry that meeting these demands without firm disarmament could empower violent groups instead of ending attacks.
Police and military sources have not publicly announced major raids to stop the meetings. At the same time, local officials say they are trying to balance security actions with the need to save lives. This balance is hard. Families in the affected communities say they want protection first. They say they want peace, but not at the price of seeing heavily armed men walking freely in their towns.
Experts in justice and governance argue that lasting peace must involve verified disarmament and a clear path for rehabilitation. They say that handing out money or building projects alone is not enough. They call for oversight so that any former fighters who surrender are taken through a proper process. This includes stopping public displays of weapons and bringing any illegal arms under state control.
For now, the debate continues in the public square. Some Nigerians watch the footage and worry that the state is losing grip. Others plead for calm and patience while talks are underway. The tension between the need to protect communities and the desire to end violence is at the heart of the debate. Voices from both sides say they want safety for ordinary people. They disagree on how best to get there.
This matter is now being watched by national leaders and security planners. How the federal and state governments respond will matter for safety in Katsina and for public trust across the country. People expect clear action to show that the state can protect its citizens and enforce the law. Many also hope the state will ensure any talks are led by officials with clear rules, and that illegal weapons are taken away and accounted for.
