The Kaduna State Government says it has secured the release of more than 500 kidnapped persons through a non-violent peace model that emphasises dialogue with bandits rather than ransom payment or military force.
The state’s Commissioner for Information, Ahmed Maiyaki, disclosed this on Wednesday at a one-day Peace Journalism workshop in Kaduna. He said the initiative, developed by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) in collaboration with the Kaduna Peace Committee, prioritises education, healthcare and livelihood support for communities affected by insecurity.
Describing the approach as the “Kaduna Peace Model,” Mr Maiyaki said it reflects a shift “from confrontation to conversation,” arguing that lasting peace must be built on trust.
“You cannot bomb peace into existence; you must build it with trust,” he said.
He explained that sustained attacks and mass abductions compelled government officials to re-examine their strategy, adding that leaders of armed groups appealed for the reopening of schools, markets and clinics shuttered during prolonged violence.
According to him, the government agreed to the requests on humanitarian grounds.
“These are basic human needs, not ransom payments. We didn’t give them a dime — what we restored was life and dignity,” he said.
Between 2015 and 2023, Kaduna recorded 1,160 security incidents that claimed 4,876 lives and displaced thousands, he noted. In 2021 alone, 1,192 people were killed and more than 3,000 abducted, forcing the closure of 142 schools and 192 health facilities across multiple local councils.
Mr Maiyaki said the new approach has reopened rural markets, revived major transport routes and allowed farmers to recover over 500,000 hectares of land previously abandoned due to insecurity.
Also speaking at the event, the Head of Strategic Communication and Media Studies at Kaduna Polytechnic, Fatima Shuaibu, attributed Nigeria’s recurring conflicts to mismanaged diversity and leadership gaps. She urged journalists to report conflicts responsibly and highlight solutions.
Governor Uba Sani has repeatedly defended dialogue-based interventions, insisting that non-kinetic responses are key to curbing kidnappings and restoring stability in rural communities.
Fresh attacks reported
Despite the government’s claims, residents in parts of Birnin Gwari, Chikun and Southern Kaduna say bandits have continued to launch sporadic attacks.
A community leader in Birnin Gwari told Premium Times that bandits invaded Layin Dan Auta in Kuyello last month, days after killing 17 people in the area.
“People are afraid to speak publicly,” he said. “The government has warned everyone to keep such information confidential.”
In separate incidents in October, gunmen abducted three residents in Gidan Busa, Kachia Local Government Area, and kidnapped 12 others in Kujama, headquarters of Chikun LGA.
Several community representatives claim the attacks are underreported and that residents have been threatened with arrest for speaking to the media.
