Human rights activist Mahdi Shehu has sounded a fresh alarm over the worsening insecurity in Northern Nigeria, alleging that bandits have established parallel governments in parts of the region. According to Shehu, these criminal gangs now hold “victory parades” and enforce their own laws in several rural areas, especially in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Taking to his verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Shehu revealed that a large number of armed bandits, fully dressed in combat gear, recently converged in Bakori under the guise of a “peace deal” with a subdued local community. He described the event as a disturbing show of dominance, symbolizing the erosion of state authority in the region.

Shehu lamented that, over the last decade, bandits have killed, raped, and displaced thousands of innocent villagers, leaving behind trails of destruction and fear. He said many communities have become too weak to resist, often forced to negotiate or submit to the demands of the armed groups just to access their farms, markets, or move freely.

According to him, the bandits now operate like local rulers—collecting levies, settling disputes, and dictating who can enter or leave certain territories. “They have carved out their own state within a state,” Shehu warned, adding that this dangerous trend is spreading to other areas across the Northern region.

His post has since sparked massive reactions online, with Nigerians expressing shock and frustration over the deepening security collapse in the country. Many called for urgent action from the federal government to restore order and reclaim territories under the control of non-state actors.