Notorious Bandit Kills ACP in Katsina, Don Officer’s Uniform to Government-Sponsored Peace Deal

A shocking breach of security protocol has rattled Katsina State after a notorious bandit reportedly killed an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) and later appeared wearing the slain officer’s uniform during a government-backed peace negotiation.

The incident occurred amid an ongoing peace initiative facilitated by the Katsina State Government, with senior officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces present.

According to security sources, the ACP whose name has not yet been officially released was ambushed and killed during a patrol operation in a community bordering the state’s frontline local government areas.

The bandit leader, identified by locals as a long-wanted terror figure, allegedly stripped the officer of his uniform after killing him.

Days later, residents were stunned when the same bandit arrived at a peace dialogue session dressed in the deceased ACP’s official police uniform, mingling freely among negotiators and even posing as a security operative.

Witnesses said uniformed personnel and government officials were present but failed to detect or stop him.

The embarrassing episode has raised urgent questions about intelligence failures, operational lapses, and the credibility of the state’s peace negotiation model.

Security analysts warn that the development underscores the growing boldness of armed groups in the North-West and the risks involved in granting them unstructured access to state-led reconciliation platforms.

Human rights activists have also expressed outrage, calling for a full investigation into how a criminal who murdered a senior police officer could walk into a government-organized event in uniform, undetected.

The Katsina State Government has yet to issue an official statement.

Meanwhile, security agencies are reportedly reviewing footage and reports from the event as calls intensify for accountability and a reassessment of the peace process.