By: Zagazola Makama
A wave of renewed hope swept through Kurfi Local Government Area of Katsina State on Thursday as community leaders and Fulani armed groups struck a historic peace accord, raising prospects of an end to years of bloodshed, kidnappings, and reprisals that have tormented the once-thriving farming community.
The reconciliation meeting, convened at Dajin Wurma forest in Kurfi, brought together a rare mix of traditional rulers, political leaders, Fulani forest leaders, and long-suffering villagers — all united by one common desire: to silence the guns and restore peace.
Leading the peace process were the Maradin Katsina and Hakimin Kurfi, Alhaji Mansur Amadu Kurfi, alongside the Chairman of Kurfi LGA, Hon. Babangida Abdullahi Kurfi. Both leaders described the agreement as “a step for the sake of maslaha (collective interest) and the well-being of our people.”
The Village Head, visibly moved, pledged to rebuild broken trust between residents and Fulani herders. “This resolution marks a turning point,” he declared, assuring that traditional authorities would embrace inclusive dialogue and back mechanisms to sustain peace.
Fulani leaders — including Alhaji Usman Kachalla Ruga, Sani Muhindinge, Yahaya Sani (popularly called Hayyu), and Alhaji Shu’aibu — echoed their commitment to abandon violence, cattle rustling, and kidnapping. They also vowed to release kidnap victims still in captivity and urged displaced farmers to return to their lands without fear.
“From today, we will live in peace. We will not attack, kidnap, or take revenge. Instead, we are ready to protect our people and allow farmers to work freely,” one of the Fulani leaders affirmed.
Describing the pact as “historic,” Chairman Babangida Abdullahi Kurfi pledged to address the neglected needs of Fulani communities in the forests, including education, healthcare, and rehabilitation. He also directed that Fulani groups could henceforth enter Kurfi town and carry out their activities without harassment.
“This is the dawn of a new chapter,” the Chairman said. “Our people deserve to live without fear, and we must sustain this peace by supporting one another.”
The meeting drew elders, women, youth, and other stakeholders, who expressed cautious optimism that the long cycle of violence was finally breaking.
For years, Kurfi has been one of Katsina’s frontline communities, bearing the brunt of relentless attacks by armed groups that claimed lives, displaced families, and crippled farming — the mainstay of the area’s economy. Thursday’s peace pact, however, has rekindled hope that a new era of safety and stability is at hand.
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