Kaduna State continues to reel under the weight of insecurity, and the latest statements by Governor Uba Sani have intensified public scrutiny. Former Governor Nasir El-Rufai had recently alleged that government officials were coordinating deals and ransom payments with bandits — a claim strongly denied by National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. Yet, Governor Uba Sani’s recent comments leave an uncomfortable question lingering: is he implicitly confirming El-Rufai’s allegations, or simply being economical with the truth?
Speaking at a book presentation, Uba Sani dismissed a purely kinetic approach to banditry, insisting that firearms alone cannot resolve the crisis. He described insistence on “firearms only” as politically motivated deception and called for community-driven solutions under what he brands the Kaduna Peace Model. The Governor argued that insecurity in the North-West is driven by poverty, unemployment, and neglect of rural areas — not ideology.
But while emphasizing non-kinetic solutions, Uba Sani also appears to validate the practice of engaging bandits in negotiations. He highlighted the need for dialogue, local mediation, and community involvement — all tools that, in practice, often involve concessions or informal arrangements with armed groups. This implicitly aligns with El-Rufai’s claims of backdoor dealings, even as Ribadu publicly denies any government-sanctioned payments.
The reality on the ground in Kaduna makes the situation more pressing. In the past six months alone:
- Birnin Gwari has witnessed repeated abductions of students and farmers. Families report paying ransom amounts ranging from ₦2 million to ₦10 million per victim.
- Giwa and Kajuru LGAs continue to experience daily cattle rustling and armed raids, disrupting local economies and livelihoods.
- Entire villages have been forced to pay “protection levies” to bandits just to farm or access markets safely.
- The Kaduna–Birnin Gwari highway remains perilous, with travelers reporting frequent ambushes and roadblocks.
These facts reveal that the ransom economy is thriving, and communities are paying dearly — literally and figuratively — while official statements focus on theory rather than reality. By insisting on dialogue and non-kinetic strategies without clarifying how they circumvent or address the ongoing ransom business, Uba Sani risks being seen as endorsing arrangements with bandits, whether overtly or tacitly.
If there are indeed no deals with bandits, as Ribadu asserts, then the Governor’s Kaduna Peace Model raises a critical question: how does it work in practice without any material concessions, guarantees, or hidden compromises? So far, the answer remains unclear, and the people of Kaduna are the ones paying the price.
The contradiction is undeniable. El-Rufai claims deals exist, Ribadu denies them, and Uba Sani speaks of community-driven peace while kidnappings, ransom payments, and cattle rustling persist unabated. Until the Governor provides clear evidence of a sustainable, results-driven pathway to peace, the public is left with two possibilities: either he has indirectly confirmed El-Rufai’s claims, or he is being economical with the truth.
Recent Incidents Highlighting Kaduna’s Ongoing Crisis
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Ungwan Galadima (Birnin Gwari LGA), July 2025: A schoolteacher and her two children were abducted; the family reportedly paid ₦3.5 million to secure their release.
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Dogon Noma (Giwa LGA), August 2025: Bandits rustled 150 cattle from local farmers. Villagers claim they were forced to pay ₦500,000 “protection levy” to recover some of the livestock.
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Kidandan Village (Kajuru LGA), June 2025: Five farmers were kidnapped while returning from fields. Ransoms of ₦4–5 million were reportedly collected per person before they were released.
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Kaduna–Birnin Gwari Highway, ongoing 2025: Travelers report frequent ambushes, with motorcycles and foodstuffs stolen even from commercial vehicles.
These incidents underscore the continuing reality on the ground, which stands in stark contrast to the theoretical solutions espoused by the Kaduna Peace Model.