Unease in Katsina as CJTF Kills leaves Local Elder

A fresh wave of anxiety has gripped residents of Malumfashi Local Government Area in Katsina State after personnel of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) fatally shot 60-year-old Alhaji Ibrahim Nagode, a respected elder from Na’alma village. Nagode was the father of a widely-known militia leader, Haruna Ibrahim, who is feared in the region and goes by the alias “Fada.”

Local accounts indicate that the shooting happened as Fada was reportedly making a return to his community following a recently negotiated local peace arrangement between armed elements and several villages in Malumfashi.

Residents say the agreement had begun to reduce tension and had encouraged some displaced people to cautiously resume normal life in their communities.

Security personnel, however, were on heightened vigilance after intelligence suggested that certain armed groups might be regrouping in the area.

As part of precautionary actions to avert potential attacks, CJTF operatives and other security units were conducting intensified patrols when the encounter occurred.

Amid the confusion of the operation, Nagode was allegedly mistaken for a threat, resulting in his tragic death.

In the aftermath of the incident, the Department of State Services (DSS) detained all CJTF members linked to the shooting to allow for a thorough investigation.

Officials believe that swift accountability measures are critical to preventing disorder and restoring public confidence in the peace process.

Nagode’s death has raised fears among local authorities and civil society actors, who warn that the killing could provoke retaliation and disrupt the delicate ceasefire and dialogue initiatives underway.

Community leaders are urging both sides to avoid further violence and to respect the channels of engagement that have helped stave off large-scale clashes in the recent past.

Security agencies continue to appeal to residents to remain alert and promptly report unusual activities in their surroundings.

Meanwhile, mediators are intensifying efforts to communicate with all concerned parties to prevent escalation. The coming days are expected to test the resilience of local peace arrangements and whether trust can be rebuilt after a destabilizing and emotionally charged incident.