Kaduna is offering bandits livelihood opportunities, not cash payments, to curb killings and kidnappings, according to state Information Commissioner Malam Ahmed Maiyaki. The initiative aims to end years of violence in the state.
The commissioner spoke at a one-day workshop on Peace Journalism, organized by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna State chapter, in collaboration with the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria and the state Ministry of Information
The “Kaduna Peace Model” represents a deliberate shift from confrontation to conversation, Maiyaki confirmed
The initiative focuses on restoring humanity through dialogue and development rather than financial appeasement. “You cannot bomb peace into existence; you must build it with trust,” he declared.
The agreement was reached after armed group leaders requested the reopening of markets, schools, and healthcare centres closed by insecurity. The state agreed because these were basic human needs, not ransom demands, Maiyaki confirmed. “We didn’t give them a dime. What we gave was life back to communities long abandoned.”
In the period from 2015 to 2023, Kaduna experienced a total of 1,160 security incidents, resulting in 4,876 fatalities, while thousands of individuals were kidnapped or displaced. Notably, in 2021 alone, 1,192 individuals lost their lives, and 3,348 were abducted, leading to the closure of 142 schools and 192 health facilities.
He observed that Kaduna, previously classified as a “red zone” by the international community, is gradually restoring its reputation through a non-kinetic strategy centered on intelligence sharing, dialogue, and socio-economic inclusion, in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). As part of the combined efforts through the ONSA–Kaduna Peace Committee, over 500 captives have been successfully released through negotiations without any ransom payments or the use of force. “There is an emerging trust in place of fear and cooperation where hostility once prevailed,” he maintained.
Maiyaki highlighted the involvement of former bandit leaders, such as Jan Bros and Yellow One Million, who now serve as community peace mediators to foster stability in areas that were once fraught with turmoil. “The peace model is effective because it is embraced by the people. Communities collaboratively build peace rather than having it imposed by authorities,” he said.
He also mentioned the recovery of over 500,000 hectares of farmland, leading to the resurgence of agricultural and commercial activities in the Giwa, Birnin Gwari, and Kauru Local Government Areas. “Markets have reopened, and between 20 to 30 cattle trucks now traverse roads that were once considered perilous by travellers,” he reported. Maiyaki asserted that each reopened school, clinic, or market signifies a “victory over fear,” demonstrating that dialogue and inclusion can accomplish what sheer force cannot. “Our citizens desired dignity, not empathy,” he stated. “Once sincerity was evident, they welcomed peace.” He clarified that this initiative is not a temporary arrangement but an ongoing engagement that involves district heads, religious leaders, and local stakeholders to avert a return to violence. “We are not proclaiming victory,” he quoted Governor Uba Sani as saying. “We are affirming our commitment.”
However, he concluded that the Kaduna Peace Model represents a dynamic process anchored in trust and shared responsibility. “Peace becomes more accessible, profound, and sustainable when people are actively involved in it,” he remarked. “The Kaduna experience illustrates that security devoid of humanity amounts to insecurity in disguise.”
