Communities in Chikun and Igabi Local Government Areas of Kaduna State have raised alarm over renewed attacks by individuals identified as repentant bandits, who allegedly stole 97 cattle within one week, leaving already impoverished farmers devastated.
The villagers, who sent out an SOS message at the weekend, accused the ex-bandits—previously profiled under the state’s peace-building initiative—of returning to violent crimes unchecked, especially around the Kaduna Airport axis and settlements along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road.
A representative of the affected farmers, who shared details of the attacks via a WhatsApp community platform, listed the losses suffered by four farmers alone.
According to the report: Alhaji Abdullahi Mubari – 47 cows ; Bawa Abubakar – 32 cows ; Dankawu Malam Bube – 8 cows ; Abdullahi Jafaru – 10 cows
The farmers lamented that the renewed cattle rustling has plunged many of them into financial ruin.
“Despite being celebrated under the ‘Kaduna Peace Model,’ these supposed repentant bandits continue to kidnap, kill, and rustle cattle with impunity while the government appears to look away,” the representative said.
The communities accused the rustlers of exploiting the trust earned through government-backed deradicalisation and peace dialogues to resume attacks on defenceless residents.
The rising wave of attacks has raised questions about the effectiveness of Governor Uba Sani’s Kaduna Peace Model, introduced in 2023 as an alternative, community-based security strategy focusing on dialogue, rural engagement and non-military interventions.
Kaduna, once one of Nigeria’s most volatile states, had long struggled with banditry, kidnappings, communal clashes and farmer–herder conflicts that crippled agriculture and rural livelihoods.
On November 11, 2025, Governor Sani had defended the peace model during a presentation at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, describing it as “an experience-backed, inclusive and sustainable pathway to restoring peace.”
But residents say the situation on the ground tells a different story.
The farmers pleaded with the state government and security agencies to intervene before the attacks escalate into a full-blown humanitarian crisis.
“We cannot survive another week of this. Our cattle are our only source of livelihood. If they finish us, what hope do we have?” another farmer lamented.
Security authorities were yet to officially comment as of the time of filing this report.
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