The Chairman of Funtua Local Government Area in Katsina State, Hon. Abdu Goya, has held a controversial meeting with armed groups allegedly involved in banditry, presenting it as part of a peace-building initiative.

The meeting, according to local sources, took place in parts of Funtua and was aimed at deepening dialogue between warring Fulani and Hausa communities who have long been trapped in cycles of revenge and abductions.

Goya was said to have urged the fighters to embrace peace and release captives still held from past conflicts.

This comes at a time when diplomatic tension between Abuja and Washington has heightened following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threat of military action and America’s designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” over alleged religious persecution.

The coincidence is causing some to scratch their heads over Nigeria’s internal security management and foreign image.

Eyewitnesses described the gathering as “tense but calm,” with Goya reportedly calling for renewed trust and reconciliation. “The visit was meant to reinforce understanding between the armed Fulani and Hausa communities,” one participant said.

However, the initiative has drawn sharp criticism. An X user, @DanKatsina50, condemned the visit as dangerous and counterproductive, writing that “this public engagement with bandits sends a dangerous message and undermines the ongoing fight against insecurity in Katsina State.”

He urged Governor Umar Dikko Radda to “immediately caution and stop LGA Chairmen from romancing with armed groups,” warning that such actions could damage the state’s image and weaken public confidence in government.

The Katsina government has not issued an official response, but some are now asking: when dialogue starts looking like appeasement?