Author Archives: News All Around

As Katsina Launches Network of Peace Centres, Zamfara Awaits Governor’s Approval for Similar Framework

In a major development for justice delivery in Nigeria’s Northwest, Katsina State has fully activated its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) law, establishing six mediation centres, while Zamfara State has passed a bill for a Multi-Door Courthouse and awaits the governor’s signature. These initiatives are designed to offer quicker, more affordable, and culturally attuned conflict resolution, particularly in communities grappling with insecurity.

The advancements were a central focus of a recent training workshop in Gusau, organized by the peacebuilding group International Alert Nigeria, which aimed to enhance the mediation skills of justice officials from both states.

Katsina’s Operational Centres

Abdulrahman Lawal Buhari, Director of Citizens’ Rights and Head of the Mediation Centre in Katsina, confirmed that Governor Mallam Umar Radda, Ph.D., has signed the ADR law into effect. A network of centres is now functioning in Katsina, Daura, Malumfashi, Funtua, Dutsinma, and Kankia.

“In many affected areas, people do not require the formal rigors of the court. They can resolve disputes amicably with the support of the mediation centres,” Buhari said. He credited International Alert as a key partner in supporting the Ministry of Justice and sharing knowledge.

Zamfara’s Pending Framework

In Zamfara, the State Assembly passed a bill in November 2025 to create a Multi-Door Courthouse, a system that directs disputes toward mediation and arbitration. It now awaits the governor’s assent to become law.

Sunday Momoh Jimoh, Program Manager for International Alert Nigeria, said the organization aided the Ministry of Justice in drafting the legislation. “The ministry reached out to us, learning from our work in Zamfara and Katsina. That collaboration led to this training,” he noted.

Building Capacity for the New Systems

The Gusau training prepared future staff for Zamfara’s planned courthouse and Katsina’s existing centres. “Although staff in Zamfara are yet to be formally appointed, we are training key stakeholders from the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary who will form the core of the structure,” Momoh Jimoh explained.

International Backing for Local Peace

This work is part of the Strengthening Peace and Resilience in Nigeria (SPRING) program, funded by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. It is implemented by Tetra Tech International alongside the Centre for Democracy and Development and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.

Mrs. Priscilla Ankut, Deputy Team Leader for SPRING, stated the program’s objective is to back conflict-sensitive policies and broaden access to justice where formal courts are overburdened or out of reach.

A Community-Led Path to Peace

Amid insecurity and court backlogs, these ADR frameworks present a critical alternative. They enable local dispute resolution, alleviate pressure on the judiciary, and promote reconciliation—essential for lasting peace.

As Zamfara moves to formalize its system, following Katsina’s lead, the cooperation between state authorities and international partners signals a meaningful turn toward sustainable, community-driven justice in the region.

Mike Odeh James

Kaduna

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has raised fresh alarm over the abduction of 15 married Christian women by Boko Haram terrorists in southern Borno State, while sharply criticizing the continued silence of authorities over the kidnapping of 166 worshippers from churches in southern Kaduna.

In a press statement issued Monday and signed by its president, Dr. Pogu Bitrus, the MBF said the women were abducted on December 18, 2025, from Kilakasa village in Dille District of Askira/Uba Local Government Area while fishing by a nearby river. The group identified the attackers as Boko Haram.

According to the MBF, all 15 victims are Christian women of the Marghi ethnic group, aged between 30 and 40, and are mothers with young children. At least one of the abducted women reportedly has six children who have now been left without their mother.

Despite families reporting the incident to security agencies and making initial ransom contacts, the forum said communication with the abductors has since ceased, with no known rescue operation underway.

“The complete silence by the Nigerian media on such a grave crime is curious and deeply troubling,” the MBF said, adding that the lack of information has compounded the anguish of families and heightened fear in Middle Belt communities within Borno State.

The forum contrasted the inaction with the recent rescue of 12 girls abducted by Boko Haram from a communal farm in Mussa District, Askira Emirate. The girls were freed within four days by troops of Operation Hadin Kai. MBF urged authorities to apply the same urgency to the Kilakasa abduction.

Beyond Borno, the forum expressed deep concern over the fate of 166 worshippers abducted from three churches in Kurmin Wali village, Kajuru Local Government Area of southern Kaduna. The kidnappings, which occurred about 15 days earlier, were initially denied by state authorities, according to the MBF.

“The silence of the Kaduna State Government and the Kaduna State Police Command is not only unsettling but heartlessly insensitive to victims’ families,” the statement said.

The MBF also condemned a recent coordinated attack on Agwara town in Niger State, where armed bandits reportedly overran local security, burned a police divisional headquarters, attacked a church, and abducted at least five residents. The assault, the forum said, has left the community traumatized and fearful of further attacks.

According to the MBF, the Agwara incident reflects a broader pattern of violence across the Middle Belt, increasingly targeting churches, schools, police facilities, and civilian communities.

In southern Kaduna, the forum cited continued daily kidnappings and attacks in Kauru, Kachia, Lere, Chikun, and Kagarko local government areas, warning that armed groups are operating with near-total impunity.

The group criticized Kaduna State for lacking a well-trained and properly funded civilian security support structure, arguing that neighboring states have made more progress through community-based security collaborations.

It also questioned the effectiveness of what the state government has described as the “Kaduna Peace Model,” noting that the period has coincided with mass kidnappings and displacement. The MBF alleged that some armed Fulani bandits previously pardoned and reintegrated in 2024 are linked to the current wave of violence.

“These developments lend credence to claims of a targeted campaign against Christian-majority ethnic nationalities of the Middle Belt,” the forum said, describing the situation as evidence of a wider pattern of religiously motivated violence.

The MBF demanded immediate and transparent updates on all abducted persons, swift and coordinated rescue efforts, and concrete protection strategies that uphold citizens’ constitutional rights to life and security.

“The lives of these women and all other abducted persons matter,” the statement concluded.

The Kaduna Central Elders Forum has asked Senator Lawal Adamu Usman, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, to render an account of his stewardship at the National Assembly, citing what it described as poor performance and weak engagement with constituents since his election.

The elders accused the senator of being more visible on social media than in the communities he represents, saying his approach to representation has failed to address the pressing challenges facing Kaduna Central.

In a statement jointly issued and signed by Mal. Inuwa Rigachikun and Mr Moses Bulus Madami, the forum described Senator Lawal Adamu as a lawmaker who relies largely on Facebook posts to communicate with constituents, rather than regular physical engagement, consultations and constituency outreach.

“Our Kaduna senator appears to exist only on Facebook. Representation goes beyond online posts. The people need to see, feel and interact with their elected representative,” the forum stated.

The group, made up of traditional rulers, retired civil servants and community stakeholders across the senatorial district, said the senator’s poor physical presence had widened the gap between him and grassroots communities, especially at a time when Kaduna Central is grappling with insecurity, unemployment and deteriorating infrastructure.

According to the elders, several communities within the district have not had any direct engagement with the senator since he assumed office, either through town hall meetings, constituency visits or stakeholder consultations.

They also accused the senator of failing to take strong positions on critical local issues, including repeated security challenges affecting rural communities, economic hardship, youth unemployment and the poor state of roads and public facilities.

“The people of Kaduna Central are facing serious challenges. These problems cannot be addressed from Abuja or through Facebook posts alone,” the elders said, adding that constituents expect their representative to be vocal both on the floor of the Senate and within the district.

The forum further called on the senator to publicly outline constituency projects attracted so far and explain his legislative contributions in clear terms to the people he represents.

The elders who underscores the senator’s performance as underwhelming, said physical presence was critical to effective representation. “Even if motions are sponsored, people want to see their senator. Physical engagement builds trust,” they said.

An Islamic group, the Young Muslim League of Nigeria (YMLN), has publicly disagreed with the position of the Sharia Council on recent electoral matters, declaring its support for the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan.

In a press statement issued by the National Coordinator of the group, Mal. Ibrahim Mohammed Abdullahi, the League’s position was based on its assessment of the INEC chair’s leadership, which it described as “professional, fair and committed to the democratic process.”

According to the group, while it holds the Sharia Council in high regard as a respected religious body, it believes that differences of opinion on national issues—especially governance and elections—should be expressed constructively and without undermining democratic institutions.

The statement reads: “The Young Muslim League of Nigeria wishes to clearly state that we differ with the recent stance taken by the Sharia Council concerning INEC,” the coordinator said. “Our support for Chairman Amupitan is anchored on his commitment to transparency, rule of law and the conduct of credible elections, which are essential for national stability.”

The group however,cautioned against what it described as attempts to politicise religion or discredit public officials without verifiable evidence, noting that such actions could deepen divisions in the country.

It further urged religious and civil society organisations to play complementary roles by promoting peace, voter education and national unity, rather than actions that could erode public confidence in electoral institutions.

“We believe that constructive engagement, not confrontation, is the best way to strengthen democracy,” the statement added.

The League also called on INEC to sustain reforms aimed at improving electoral integrity, while encouraging citizens—especially Muslim youths—to participate actively and responsibly in the democratic process.

The Sharia Council had earlier expressed concerns over electoral issues, prompting reactions from various groups across the country.

By Mike Odeh James

Residents of Gusau, Zamfara State capital, have accused the state government of complicity in the alleged abduction of Ambassador Bashir Isa Gusau, the Northwest Tinubu/Shettima Youth Coordinator for Zamfara State.

Gusau, a prominent supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, was reportedly taken from his residence by armed men, sparking controversy over whether he was kidnapped by bandits or detained by government operatives.

An eyewitness, who requested anonymity, claimed that “more than 30 armed bandits” stormed Gusau’s residence and abducted him in front of his wife, leaving the neighborhood in confusion.

However, residents have cast doubt on the bandit narrative, pointing instead to what they describe as a pattern of arrests targeting opposition party members in the state.

“We believe that our member Bashir Isa was abducted and detained by Zamfara government, not kidnapped by any group of bandits,” said Dr. Ado Usman Charanci, APC Support Group Northwest Coordinator, in a press statement.

According to the statement, efforts to locate Gusau through security agencies including the Police Headquarters in Gusau, the Department of State Security Service (DSS), and the Civil Defence proved unsuccessful.

“After some minutes of the ugly incident, we contacted the relevant security agents… only to discover that Isa Gusau is nowhere to be found,” a source disclosed.

Some reports allege that Gusau was taken by unknown security operatives attached to the Government House in Gusau and is being held in one of the guest houses within the premises.

The APC Support Group has called on security agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding Gusau’s disappearance and warned the Zamfara state government, led by Governor Dauda Lawal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against what they termed “intimidation and persecution of innocent APC supporters.”

Gusau is known for his active role in mobilizing support for President Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the Northwest zone.

His family members have expressed confusion and frustration over their inability to determine the reason for his detention or secure his release.

The Zamfara state government has not issued an official statement on the allegations at the time of this report.

A delegation of leaders from the Nigerian Interdenominational Pastors Assembly (NIPA) has commended Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, for his swift visit and rescue efforts to recent bandit attacks and mass abductions in Kajuru Local Government Area, as well as his administration’s renewed focus on infrastructure development and community support.

The delegation visited several affected communities in the Kurmin Wali axis of Kajuru amid heightened tension following coordinated attacks by armed bandits, during which scores of residents were abducted in separate incidents that attracted national and international concern.

Speaking during the visit, NIPA representatives, led by Reverend Abraham Habila Zock, praised Governor Uba Sani’s visible leadership and hands-on approach to crisis management. They noted that the governor’s decision to personally visit the affected communities to console families and reassure residents had restored hope and confidence among the people.

While addressing community members on needed to be security conscious , the group acknowledged the Governor’s decision to stand with the people in this darkest hour and for strengthening their communities through both spiritual and practical support.”

Stating further, Reverend Zock who observed that Governor Uba Sani’s administration has consistently reaffirmed its zero-tolerance stance on insecurity, pledged sustained collaboration with federal security agencies and the deployment of new strategies to protect vulnerable communities, particularly in Southern Kaduna.

” We can see that during an earlier visit to Kurmin Wali, the governor described the attacks as a “cruel abduction of innocent citizens” and assured residents that coordinated security efforts were ongoing to ensure the safe release of those still in captivity.”

Beyond security interventions, the visiting clergy highlighted the importance of infrastructure development in stabilising Kajuru and neighbouring communities. They pointed to ongoing road construction projects and improved access to social services under the Uba Sani administration as critical to restoring economic activities, enhancing mobility, and reducing the isolation that often worsens insecurity in rural areas.

Residents also welcomed recent infrastructure initiatives, including the rehabilitation of rural road networks and plans for new healthcare facilities, describing them as vital steps toward improving living conditions and strengthening community resilience.

Despite the grim backdrop of the abductions, community leaders said the pastors’ visit had boosted morale and reinforced collective resolve. “We are grateful that our religious leaders stood with us and recognised the government’s role in saving lives and rebuilding our communities,” a local community chairman said.

The clerics noted that the latest abductions underscore the persistent security challenges in Southern Kaduna, where years of banditry and kidnappings have disrupted farming, education, and daily life. However, they expressed optimism that the combined efforts of faith leaders, government authorities, and security agencies would continue to shape a more coordinated and resilient response to violence across the region.

Bida Masaka

The Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum (SMBLF) joins all people of conscience, faith-based bodies, civil society organisations, and the international community in unequivocally condemning the heinous and barbaric kidnapping of 177 innocent Adara natives from Kurmin Wali village, Afogo Ward, Kajuru Local Government Area of Southern Kaduna, in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

This reprehensible crime, which targeted harmless civilians worshipping peacefully in their community, is yet another tragic reminder of the unrelenting terror being visited upon indigenous populations of the Middle Belt. We stand firmly in solidarity with the Adara people, Southern Kaduna, and all victims of terrorism across the region.

What has further compounded this atrocity is the irresponsible and shocking public denial of the mass kidnapping by the Kaduna State Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Barr. Sule Shu’aibu (SAN); the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Rabiu; and the Chairman of Kajuru Local Government Council, Mr. Madaki Dauda. The SMBLF views this conduct not merely as a betrayal of public trust, but as a grave act of incompetence that undermined rescue efforts, emboldened the criminals, and gave the kidnappers valuable time to relocate their captives to remote terror enclaves.

Now that the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, has publicly affirmed that the kidnapping indeed occurred, there can be no moral or administrative justification for silence or inaction. We therefore expect the appropriate authorities to sanction all officials who deliberately misled the public, obstructed emergency response, or sought to trivialise the suffering of victims.

This grievous crime has once again validated the long-standing position of the SMBLF in strongly condemning the so-called amnesty programme granted to armed bandits and terrorists in Kaduna State. It is deeply insensitive and strategically reckless for the Kaduna State Government to continue offering free medical care, educational opportunities for the children of terrorists, and skills acquisition programmes to violent criminals who have neither surrendered their weapons nor renounced terrorism, while their victims are abandoned to trauma, displacement, and poverty.

Even more alarming is the reality that hundreds of indigenous communities in Southern Kaduna remain without any meaningful security presence, while scarce public resources are being expended on the welfare of those who have shed innocent blood.

Let it be clearly stated that the Middle Belt has increasingly become the most fertile ground for terrorist banditry, where human lives are commodified for ransom with little consequence for the perpetrators.
Recent events beyond Kaduna State further reinforce the dangerous pattern in the Middle Belt.

The horrifying abduction of over 300 school pupils and their teachers from Papiri community in, Agwara LGA of Niger State; the mass abduction of Christians during worship at Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, in Eruku town, located in the Ekiti LGA of Kwara State in the Middle Belt among others, provide chilling evidence of systematic attacks on Christian communities across Nigeria by Islamic terrorists.

These incidents lend weight to widespread affirmation about an unfolding Christian genocide through terror and state failure.

Our Demands

We call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to immediately deploy all necessary military and intelligence resources to secure the safe rescue of the abducted, law-abiding citizens of Kurmin Wali.

All public officials who denied or downplayed this crime must be suspended and thoroughly investigated for their roles in obstructing justice and endangering lives.

Governor Uba Sani must urgently establish and properly fund community-based vigilante formations in every Southern Kaduna community, to serve as a first line of defence against terrorist incursions.
The Governors of the Middle Belt states must immediately form a Joint Regional Security Outfit, similar to the South-West model, to enhance intelligence sharing across state boundaries and to enable rapid, coordinated response to attacks.

The time for the formation of State Police is long overdue. The National Assembly must as a matter of urgency start working on a bill that will facilitate it.

The SMBL believes that only a restructured Nigeria with a new Constitution can qurantee the safety, progress and wellbeing of every citizen and we insist that Nigeria must be restructured largely based on the recommendations of 2014 National Conference.

This is the moment for Nigeria to activate and operationalise its security cooperation agreements with the United States and Israel, as it has become evident that Nigeria cannot defeat these transnational terror networks in isolation.

Conclusion.

We call on Governor Uba Sani to abandon the failed policy of appeasing terrorists and to place the welfare, safety, and security of law-abiding citizens above all other considerations. The lives of innocent Nigerians must never be treated as expendable.

The SMBLF assures the people of Adara land, Southern Kaduna, and the entire Middle Belt of our solid solidarity.

While we join all well-meaning Nigerians in prayer for the safe return of the hostages, we insist that prayers must be matched with decisive action.

The government must do everything necessary to ensure the immediate rescue of the abducted and to prevent the recurrence of such horrors.

Signed:
HRM Oba Oladipo Olaitan
Leader, SMBLF and Leader of Afenifere

Dr. Bitrus Pogu
President, Middle Belt Forum

Senator John Azuta-Mbata
President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide

H.E Ambassador Godknows Igali
National Chairman, PANDEF

22nd January, 2026

A women’s group operating under the aegis of Kajuru/Chikun Women Group has strongly criticised Senator Lawal Adamu, representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District over what it described as his alleged failure to visit or support communities affected by recent bandit attacks in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The group, in a press statement jointly signed by its Coordinator, Mrs. Jumai Bulus, and Secretary,Mrs. Mary Galadima, accused the senator of showing “no sense of concern” for victims of insecurity in Kajuru and Chikun local government areas, despite the spate of attacks that have left several communities traumatised and displaced.

According to the women, it was disheartening that a lawmaker elected with the hope of improving the welfare and security of his constituents had failed to rise to the occasion at a critical time.

“It is painful to note that our senator has not only failed in his duties as a lawmaker, but has also disappointed the electorate who voted for him with the hope that he would make their lives better,” the statement read.

The group noted that previous occupants of the senatorial seat, under similar circumstances, didn’t waste time to speak out on the floor of the Senate and further visited affected communities as well as identified with victims of attacks and provided relief materials to ease their suffering.

“In this trying period, we expected Senator Lawal to act like his predecessors ,who openly condemned such attacks and personally visited affected areas. As we speak, we are not aware of any such visit or intervention by him,” the women said.

They further lamented what they described as the senator’s habitual silence on critical issues of security and welfare, stressing that both are fundamental constitutional responsibilities of elected representatives.

“We are deeply pained that our senator has not shown concern about our security and welfare, which are fundamental constitutional matters,” the statement added.

The women also alleged that rather than engaging with constituents or initiating legislative and advocacy efforts to address insecurity, the senator had been frequently travelling outside the country.

“We gathered that instead of sitting down to make relevant laws or interventions to better the lives of his people, he is often travelling out of the country,” the group claimed.

Raising further concerns, the Kajuru/Chikun women said they were unaware of any tangible constituency projects attracted or executed by the senator since he assumed office over two years ago.

“We have not seen any meaningful constituency projects that he has either attracted or executed since he came into office. If there are any in our communities, he should boldly come out to tell us,” they challenged.

The group also called on Senator Lawal to publicly account for constituency funds allocated to lawmakers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for constituency outreach and development.
“We are challenging him to render account of the huge monies given to lawmakers by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to boost constituency outreach,” the statement read.

The women vowed to mobilise their communities to vote the senator out in the 2027 general elections, insisting that they would support candidates with proven capacity, courage and commitment to speaking for their people on the floor of the Senate.

“We will no longer support docile lawmakers. We are determined to elect people with proven track records of capacity and purpose—leaders who will stand up and speak for us,” they declared.

Former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, has called for unity and collective responsibility in addressing the recent kidnapping incident in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, urging Nigerians to avoid politicising the tragedy.

Reacting to the incident, Sani expressed confidence in the capacity of the Kaduna State Government and security agencies to secure the release of the abducted victims, describing the rescue of the captives as an urgent priority.

“I have no doubt that the Kaduna State Government and the security agencies will work diligently to secure the release of the captives,” the former lawmaker said.

While condemning the attack, Sani acknowledged the security efforts of Governor Uba Sani, noting that significant progress has been made in tackling insecurity across the state over the past two years.

“Despite this tragic incident, Governor Uba Sani has been doing a lot to secure the state in the last two years, and his efforts should be appreciated,” he stated.
The rights activist emphasized that moments of crisis should not be exploited for political gains, stressing that the focus must remain on saving lives and restoring safety.

“Working towards securing the release of the hostages now is the priority. Everyone who has something to contribute should do that and not play politics with the lives of the people,” Sani warned.

He further noted that criminal elements often take advantage of vulnerable communities, urging sustained resolve in confronting insecurity.

“Bandits and terrorists will always hit soft targets, and we must never waver or falter in our determination to defeat them and secure our state and country,” he added.

The Kajuru kidnapping has once again drawn attention to the persistent security challenges in parts of Kaduna State, with calls mounting for sustained collaboration between government, security agencies, and local communities to end banditry and terrorism.

The Christian Media Forum (CMF) has said that it received the news of the abduction of 167 Christian worshipers in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State with great concerns, demanding the government and security agencies do all possible for their immediate rescue.

In a statement signed by its National President, Okpani Jacob Onjewu Dickson, and National Secretary, Andrew Ibrahim Mshelia, the CMF called on security agencies to redouble their efforts towards ensuring the safe release of the abducted worshipers.

The statement said that the armed bandits were said to have arrived at the community while church services were being conducted, reportedly carrying out coordinated attacks on several churches.

“They fired shots into the air, causing panic which led to the abduction of more than 100 worshippers.

“The Christian Media Forum further gathered that the development forced a lot of the worshippers to attempt to escape into nearby bushes.

“However, they fell into the hands of other members of the bandits who seized them without much struggle.

“A local source, whose relative was among the victims, told newsmen that the attackers moved from one church to another, abducting people in large numbers during the operation,” the statement said.

The Christian Media Forum said that it is deeply concerned about the safety and well-being of the abducted worshipers.

The forum urged the state government and well-meaning Nigerians to work closely with security agencies to bring an end to banditry and kidnapping in Kaduna State.

The CMF also appealed to the Kaduna State Government to put in place strategic measures that would deter kidnappers and curb the menace of kidnapping and other social vices in the state.

“We condemn this heinous act of violence and demand that the perpetrators be brought to justice.

“The abduction of innocent worshipers is a grave violation of human rights and dignity.

“We stand in solidarity with the families of the abducted worshipers and pray for their safe release,” the statement said.

The CMF commended the efforts of security agencies working to combat banditry and kidnapping in Kaduna State.

“However, more needs to be done to address the root causes of these crimes.

“We urge the government to provide adequate security for citizens and ensure that those responsible for these atrocities face the full weight of the law.

“The Christian Media Forum prays for the safe return of the abducted worshipers and for peace to return to Kaduna State,” it concluded.