ISTANBUL

A state-brokered peace agreement is set to restore calm among communities in northern Nigeria’s Kaduna state after a decade of bandit violence.

The bandits agreed to the accord during a dialogue over the weekend and expressed their remorse Monday.

They pledged to uphold the peace process and reintegrate into society, emphasizing the importance of their children accessing education.

“We appeal to vigilantes to support this peace initiative and discourage any actions that could jeopardize it,” said Ibrahim Bokolo, a former bandit, urging support throughout the reintegration process.

To sustain the initiative, the state government established a peace dialogue group, which has already boosted activity in Kaduna’s grain and cattle markets.

A Peace and Reconciliation Committee was also created under the agreement, bringing together government officials and community leaders to address ongoing issues.

“This initiative has demonstrated that dialogue and understanding can resolve even the most complex conflicts,” said Zubairu AbdulRauf, the coordinator of the peace process, suggesting the model could be applied in other regions.

Nigeria’s northwest has seen a surge in attacks from bandits and armed groups in recent years.

Data from Nigeria's National Bureau of Statistics recorded nearly 615,000 deaths in attacks between May 2023 and April 2024, with the northwest bearing the highest toll with more than 200,000 killings.