Bello Turji-Led Faction Kills Bandit Leader, Key Peace Enforcer in Katsina

Abdullahi Lantai, widely known as “Lantai Officer” and a central figure in maintaining a fragile peace among bandit groups in Jibia, has been killed in an ambush linked to a rival network.

Security sources told SK Blog that Lantai was shot dead on January 27, 2026, around 1:00 p.m. by gunmen believed to be loyal to Bello Turji’s faction, which operates across Sokoto and Zamfara states.

The attack reportedly occurred as Lantai traveled to a dialogue and reconciliation meeting arranged to resolve tensions following a clash between his group and Turji’s faction on January 24. Sources said the ambush was carried out by Turji’s operatives, led by figures identified as Dogo Rabe and Black.

Before his death, Lantai played a key role in enforcing a temporary peace deal in collaboration with the Katsina State Government. He controlled strategic forest routes in Jibia, preventing Turji’s group from moving freely and restricting the transit of stolen cattle from Zamfara to Niger.

Security analysts warn that his killing could spark renewed violence in the Jibia axis. “This appears to be a deliberate move to remove a stabilizing force and expand control over smuggling routes and criminal networks in Katsina,” one source said.

The threat level in the state is now considered high. Authorities are reportedly reviewing strategies to prevent a breakdown of the fragile peace, as residents brace for potential retaliatory attacks, kidnappings, and raids by rival groups.