Face of Terror: Notorious Bandit Leader Babaro Surfaces at Peace Dialogue Days After Killing 32 Worshippers in Katsina

Renowned security analyst and counterinsurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, has stirred nationwide outrage after releasing the image of Babaro, a dreaded bandit kingpin responsible for some of the bloodiest massacres in Katsina State.

Babaro, whose reign of terror has left indelible scars on the Kankara and Malumfashi axis, was shockingly spotted on Sunday at a peace dialogue convened in Faskari Local Government Area. His appearance has provoked intense debate over the government’s strategy in dealing with hardened criminals who continue to unleash mayhem on innocent Nigerians.

According to Makama, Babaro was the mastermind of the recent carnage in Mantau town, Malumfashi LGA, where heavily armed gunmen stormed a mosque during prayers, killing no fewer than 32 worshippers and leaving dozens more critically injured. The massacre drew widespread condemnation, with communities lamenting the endless bloodshed in a region already battered by banditry.

Eyewitnesses described Babaro as one of the most ruthless warlords operating in Katsina, feared for his violent raids on villages, kidnappings for ransom, and targeted killings. His audacious presence at a peace parley—just days after such a brutal attack—has raised fresh questions about the credibility of ongoing dialogue efforts and the thin line between reconciliation and impunity.

Analysts warn that the government’s repeated indulgence of killers under the guise of dialogue risks emboldening other criminal elements, undermining security operations, and eroding public trust. For many, Babaro’s attendance at the talks is a painful reminder of the state’s struggle to balance peace-building with justice for victims.

As the image of Babaro circulates across social media, grief-stricken communities in Katsina demand accountability, insisting that peace without justice would only pave the way for more bloodshed.