Farmers in Kaduna State have raised an urgent alarm that individuals previously paraded as repentant bandits have returned to terrorise rural communities, stealing nearly 100 cattle in a single week.

In a distress message shared with authorities, residents of Chikun and Igabi Local Government Areas reported that the renewed criminal activities are being carried out by these so-called reformed bandits operating around the Kaduna Airport axis.

A representative of the affected farmers detailed the losses through a WhatsApp message, noting that the attacks occurred in Kadi village and surrounding communities along the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Road in Chikun LGA.

Farmers Lose 97 Cattle in Seven Days

According to the breakdown provided:

• Alhaji Abdullahi Mubari lost 47 cows
• Bawa Abubakar lost 32
• Dankawu Malam Bube lost 8
• Abdullahi Jafaru lost 10

This brings the total number of stolen cattle to 97 in just one week.

The farmers appealed for urgent government intervention to halt the worsening insecurity.

‘Kaduna Peace Model’ Under Scrutiny

They expressed frustration that despite being promoted as a success under the Kaduna Peace Model, the ‘repentant bandits’ continue to kidnap, kill, and rustle cattle with impunity, while authorities allegedly look the other way.

The Kaduna Peace Model—introduced by Governor Uba Sani in 2023—focuses on inclusive governance, rural development, and community engagement as alternatives to heavy military force.

Kaduna has long grappled with rampant banditry, kidnappings, farmer–herder conflicts, and communal violence, making it one of Nigeria’s most insecure regions.

On November 11, 2025, Governor Sani defended the initiative during a presentation at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Lagos, describing it as a practical and sustainable framework for restoring peace.