The Kaduna State Peace Commission (KSPC) has disclosed that the State recorded zero conflicts in 2024.
This was because the Commission noted that there was no single record of conflict between herders and farmers in the year under review, zero political-induced violence, and no confrontation bordering chieftaincy disputes or violence over boundary matters.
The Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dr Sale Momale, who disclosed yesterday during the Internal Reflections Meeting jointly organised by the Commission and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), viewed 2024 as peaceful and free from violence.
He reiterated that throughout 2024, Kaduna State did not witness a single violence associated with disputes over territorial boundaries, either between community against community, LGA against LG, or between Kaduna State and another State.
“We salute and appreciate the people of Kaduna State for making this possible, including our various stakeholders who have worked hard to make this a practical reality”.
However, he noted that the major challenge in terms of peace and security is the activities of criminal groups and gangs. He believed this was a national and regional dilemma, and he added that the worst-affected States in the country are in the Northwest geopolitical zone.
“We want to see Kachia, Kajuru, Kagarko, Chikun and a few affected parts of Jaba, Sanga, and Zangon-Kataf local government areas cleared of this menace”.
He urged the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’tul Nasir Islam (JNI), various Non-Governmental Organizations to join the Commission in campaigning for an end to banditry in the six LGAs of Kachia, Kajuru, Kagarko, Chikun, parts of Zangon-Kataf, Jema’a, Jaba, Sanga and few parts of Kaura all in Southern Kaduna.
He noted that the authorities have succeeded in bringing all the aggrieved groups from the pastoral and farming sides together to work together.
“So, instead of the security forces fighting unknown criminal gangs, now there will be defined targets and enemies. Some occurrences like Tudun Biri would not happen again because the communities are united, working with security agencies and the Kaduna State Government to face the criminal groups.
According to Dr Momale, this initiative would define the fight in 2025 after isolating the criminal groups in the three critical LGAs of Igabi, Birnin Gwari, and Giwa because it’s difficult to separate the innocent community groups from the pure criminal gangs in some of these areas.
“Let’s replicate these areas affected by threats of gangsterism, criminal banditry and some Islamic extremist groups in part of Birnin Gwari, especially in parts of Niger State that adjoined Kaduna State”.
In separate remarks, the Secretary of the State chapter of the CAN, Reverend Caleb Ma’aji, and the Secretary of the JNI, Malam Ibrahim Kufena, respectively, commended the Commission for its efforts in ensuring peace in the State.
Similarly, the Director General of the Kaduna State Bureau for Interfaith, Barrister Tahir Umar Tahir, appreciated the KSPC for its wonderful job in 2024.
