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Why banditry may be returning to Kaduna exposes flaws in state government’s peace process
Why banditry may be returning to Kaduna exposes flaws in state government’s peace process
By: Zagazola Makama
The fragile peace in Kaduna State is once again under severe threat as banditry resurfaces along critical highways and rural communities, reviving old concerns over the sincerity and effectiveness of the state government’s amnesty programme.
The killing of Musa Kachallah, a repentant bandit leader who had renounced crime and embraced peace, has once again drawn attention to the uncertain security condition in Kaduna State.
Kachallah, once feared across parts of Chikun Local Government Area, had turned his back on violence, committing himself to community reconciliation. Respected by villagers in Tsohon Gaya for his peace efforts, he became a visible symbol of transformation. His assassination on Aug. 3, however, shattered that image and reignited fears that peace in Kaduna may only be skin-deep.
According to security and community sources, the killing was as calculated as it was cruel. At about 1023 hours on the fateful day, a group of bandits arrived at Kachallah’s residence disguised as friendly visitors. In keeping with local tradition, he welcomed them, offering food and pleasantries. But when night fell, their intentions became clear. At about 1145 hours, sporadic gunshots erupted, sending commotion across the settlement. By the time security personnel arrived, the assailants had disappeared into the surrounding bush.
Among those present during the attack was Shayibu Madugo, a known associate of another bandit figure, Gurgu. One of the assailants, identified as Mallau, was also injured and is reportedly receiving treatment at a secret medical location. Kachallah’s remains were laid to rest the following morning at 1005 hours on Aug. 4, in line with Islamic rites.
The killing goes beyond one man’s death. For months, Kachallah had worked to dissuade youths from taking up arms, urging them to abandon kidnapping and cattle rustling. Residents say he was genuine in his repentance, often standing as a mediator in local disputes.
Now, his silencing has not only discouraged others who might have considered laying down their weapons but also emboldened hardline factions opposed to peace.
It is believed that the killing has inspired retaliatory violence from bandit groups, especially those who perceive the state’s amnesty as insincere or biased. Already, since the killing, security reports indicated that bandits have intensified activities around Chikun, Kauru, Giwa, Makarfi on the Zaria–Kano highway, and Kajuru Local Government Areas and most recently the Abuja–Kaduna road, where a journalist was kidnapped on Friday. Already the authorities have stepped up daily patrol efforts at the Rigasa station line amid suspected security threats.
The resurgence of these pockets of attacks threatens the steady peace that was recorded within the past months in Kaduna, a once epicentre of kidnapping-for-ransom in Nigeria.
Despite these troubling developments, many security stakeholders and residents accuse the state government of complacency. Governor Uba Sani’s much-publicised “Kaduna Model” of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration has been described as a charade, lacking structure, transparency, and credibility.
Unlike amnesty programmes in other volatile regions, Kaduna’s initiative has been criticised for its lack of coordination, strategic framework, absence of community participation, and failure to provide genuine rehabilitation for repentant fighters. While the governor publicly received “repentant bandits” earlier this year and promised international-standard reintegration, there is little on the ground to suggest any concrete plan.
Security sources note that there were no individual risk assessments to differentiate hardened commanders from coerced foot soldiers. No verifiable rehabilitation or livelihood programmes were implemented. No sustainable monitoring structure was set up to ensure compliance. Worst of it, no disarmament programmes was set up to receive arms from the bandits, in most cases, they come without their weapons and go back to their enclaves after every engagement. The programme appeared to have been driven by political optics rather than strategic intent. The killing of Kachallah has now exposed these gaps, with many bandits perceiving the process as betrayal rather than reconciliation.
On the ground, it is the Nigerian Army troops under 1 Division, NAF, the Police with critical support from the DSS that have held the line in places like Birnin Gwari and Chikun, and other part of the state, neutralizing armed groups and securing major corridors. But the military alone cannot guarantee lasting peace without political leadership and state-level initiatives.
Police formations, for instance, remain under-equipped, with most of their patrol vehicles grounded. Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) are unavailable, leaving major entry points into Kaduna unprotected. Despite persistent requests, the state government has not provided critical logistics to complement security operations.
Multiple sources allege that Governor Uba Sani rarely convenes security meetings or reads situation reports. Unlike his counterparts in North Western Niger, Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi or Borno in the North East, who are known for prioritising security and directly engaging with security agencies, Sani is accused of disengagement and indifference.
According to the sources, the governor hardly picks calls, responds to urgent messages, or visits attack scenes or victims and their families. His most visible involvement in security matters has been receiving rescued victims handed over by the Office of the National Security Adviser, a role seen more as ceremonial than operational. Besides, Governor Uba Sani mostly operates his state from Abuja.
This disconnect has widened the gap between the state government and frontline security agencies. It has also eroded public trust, leaving rural communities to question whether the state truly has a strategy for peace.
Kaduna’s worsening security point to the collapse of the so-called amnesty programme and the absence of strong political leadership. The failure to build a credible framework for dialogue, reintegration, and rehabilitation has emboldened bandits who now see the state as weak and divided.
The bitter reality is that, while the military and other security agencies continues to make sacrifices to hold the line, the Kaduna State Government has failed to complement these efforts. Peace is fragile, and with bandits regaining confidence, the state risks sliding back into the dark years of mass abductions and rural terror.
The assassination has reopened old wounds. It has exposed once more that peace in the state rests not on a solid foundation, but on fragile promises and the overstretched efforts of security forces.
Unless the state government takes security issues beyond rhetoric by complementing security agencies to stamp out banditry, the region could again descend into unchecked violence.
The question is no longer whether the government’s amnesty will work, but whether Governor Uba Sani truly cares enough to take ownership of the security in his state.
Zagazola Makama is a Counter Insurgency Expert and Security Analyst in the Lake Chad Region
Why banditry may be returning to Kaduna exposes flaws in state government’s peace process
News
Madiba Advocates Raise Alarm, Urge Presidency, Labour Ministry, NSITF Management Board & relevant authorities to Probe Alleged ₦297bn NSITF Irregularities Linked to MD Faleye Oluwaseun
Madiba Advocates Raise Alarm, Urge Presidency, Labour Ministry, NSITF Management Board & relevant authorities to Probe Alleged ₦297bn NSITF Irregularities Linked to MD Faleye Oluwaseun
Madiba Advocates for Good Governance has criticised what it described as the continued silence of authorities over serious allegations of financial irregularities at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, the NSITF Management Board, and other relevant agencies to urgently initiate a comprehensive investigation.
The group said the allegations, which have persisted in the public domain for weeks, involve the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NSITF, Mr. Oluwaseun Mayomi Faleye, and have yet to receive any clear institutional response despite their gravity.
The call follows a series of petitions and public disclosures that have brought increased scrutiny to the management of the Fund, particularly in relation to financial transactions and governance processes within the institution. Madiba Advocates noted that the scale of the allegations and the sensitivity of the funds involved make immediate intervention both necessary and urgent.
At the centre of the controversy are allegations involving the management of approximately ₦297,019,145,288.60 in funds collected under the Employees’ Compensation Act (ECA) between January 2 and October 9, 2025.
The Employees’ Compensation Scheme is funded through mandatory employer contributions designed to provide compensation to Nigerian workers who suffer injury, disability, or death in the course of employment. Stakeholders have consistently emphasised that these funds are not government revenue, but trust funds belonging exclusively to Nigerian workers, requiring strict oversight and accountability.
₦243bn Allegedly Spent Without Board Approval
Documents referenced in the public domain indicate that out of the total inflow of ₦297 billion, an estimated ₦243,203,518,621.17 was expended within the same period. Sources allege that a significant portion of these expenditures may have been carried out without the approval of the NSITF Management Board, raising concerns about compliance with the NSITF Act and established financial regulations.
‘No Approval Limit’ Raises Governance Concerns
Central to the allegations is an internal document reportedly linked to a March 4, 2025 Executive Committee (EXCO) meeting, which outlined financial approval thresholds for officials. While limits were reportedly set for other officers, the Managing Director was allegedly assigned “no approval limit”, a development that has raised serious concerns about internal controls and governance safeguards.
Multiple Accounts and Financial Flow Allegations
Further reports allege the existence of over 100 bank accounts linked to a single Bank Verification Number (BVN), alongside financial inflows amounting to over $7.3 million and hundreds of millions of naira into accounts linked to the Managing Director and associated entities. Analysts note that such patterns, if verified, would require thorough scrutiny by relevant financial and regulatory authorities.
₦5.5bn Commission Payments Queried
Additional concerns have been raised over alleged commission payments totalling ₦5.53 billion, reportedly made without clear evidence of requisite approvals from the Board or the supervising Ministry. The payments are said to range between 15 and 20 per cent commissions and were allegedly executed outside standard procedures.
Governance Gap Raises Further Questions
Observers have also pointed to a governance gap between July 2023, when the Managing Director was appointed, and January 2025, when the Management Board was reportedly constituted, raising concerns about the level of oversight during that period.
Madiba Advocates for Good Governance stated that the issues have now reached a critical point, requiring decisive action from all relevant authorities to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of the Fund.
Call for Urgent Investigation
Reacting to the development, Madiba Advocates for Good Governance, led by its Executive Director, Alhassan Kabiru, expressed concern over the prolonged delay in addressing the allegations and the absence of a coordinated institutional response.
The group called on:
• The Chairman of the NSITF Management Board,
• The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment,
• Relevant regulatory and anti-corruption agencies, and
• President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
to urgently intervene and ensure a thorough and independent investigation into the matter.
“This matter has lingered in the public space without clarity. It is important that the appropriate authorities take decisive steps to investigate and establish the facts,” the group stated.
Madiba Advocates emphasized that transparency in handling the allegations is essential to restoring confidence in public institutions and safeguarding workers’ funds.
Responses and Presumption of Innocence
When contacted, Mr. Faleye reportedly stated that he was not aware of the allegations. Officials of the Ministry of Labour were also said to have denied prior knowledge of the claims, while the NSITF Management Board indicated that the issues would be verified.
All allegations remain unproven and subject to investigation.
A Test of Accountability
Analysts say the situation presents a significant test of Nigeria’s public finance accountability framework, particularly for institutions entrusted with workers’ welfare.
Madiba Advocates for Good Governance warned that the continued delay in addressing these allegations risks sending the wrong signal about accountability within public institutions. The organisation urged the Presidency, the Ministry of Labour, and the NSITF Management Board to act without further delay to investigate the issues and restore confidence in the system. It added that failure to act decisively could further erode public trust and undermine the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda on transparency, accountability, and good governance.
Madiba Advocates Raise Alarm, Urge Presidency, Labour Ministry, NSITF Management Board & relevant authorities to Probe Alleged ₦297bn NSITF Irregularities Linked to MD Faleye Oluwaseun
Easter: IPCR Calls for Peace, Unity, National Reconciliation
By: Michael Mike
The Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR) has called on Nigerians to embrace peace, unity, and national reconciliation as Christians across the country mark Easter.
In a press statement issued on Saturday, the Director-General of the institute, Joseph Ochogwu, extended warm greetings to Christians, describing Easter as a sacred season that reflects sacrifice, redemption, and hope.
He noted that the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ remains a defining moment in the Christian faith, symbolising victory over adversity, renewal of life, and the triumph of light over darkness.
Ochogwu urged Christians to use the period to pray for peace, tranquility, and harmony in Nigeria, especially at a time when the country is grappling with security challenges. He referenced recent incidents of violence in parts of the country, including Plateau State, Kaduna State, and Maiduguri.
The IPCR boss expressed condolences to families and communities affected by the violence, offering prayers for strength, healing, and comfort for those grieving.
He emphasised that Easter serves as a reminder of the enduring power of hope, urging Nigerians—regardless of religion, ethnicity, or background—to embrace peaceful coexistence and mutual respect.
Ochogwu also called on citizens to remain vigilant and support lawful efforts to safeguard lives and property, stressing that peacebuilding is a collective responsibility.
“As we celebrate this holy season, let us preach love, extend kindness, and demonstrate compassion in our daily interactions,” he said, adding that the spirit of Easter should inspire reconciliation and a renewed commitment to building a peaceful and prosperous nation.
The institute reaffirmed its commitment to promoting dialogue, strengthening conflict resolution mechanisms, and supporting initiatives aimed at achieving sustainable peace across Nigeria.
He gave a message of hope, praying that Easter would bring healing to the nation, comfort to the afflicted, and renewed optimism for a future defined by unity and shared progress.
Easter: IPCR Calls for Peace, Unity, National Reconciliation
Army, DSS arrest notorious cultist, gunrunner in Cross River, recover weapons
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 13 Brigade, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), have arrested a suspected cultist and gunrunner during a raid operation in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Security sources said the operation was carried out at about 1:10 a.m. on April 3 along Effangha Spring Road in Ikom.
The sources disclosed that the suspect, who hails from Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, was apprehended during the coordinated raid.
According to the sources, troops recovered one revolver pistol, one sword, two laptops, four mobile phones, one digital camera, one wristwatch, three identity cards, and a sack of garri allegedly used to conceal the weapon.
The suspect and recovered items have since been handed over to the DSS for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Security authorities said the operation is part of ongoing efforts to curb cult-related violence and illegal arms circulation in the South-South region.
Army, DSS arrest notorious cultist, gunrunner in Cross River, recover weapons
ADC; Coalition Is Not Enough
Madiba Advocates Raise Alarm, Urge Presidency, Labour Ministry, NSITF Management Board & relevant authorities to Probe Alleged ₦297bn NSITF Irregularities Linked to MD Faleye Oluwaseun
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