RIDDING KADUNA OF CRIMINALITY

 Hassan Abubakar writes that repentant bandits are being re-integrated into the society

It’s no fluke how the Uba Sani administration is ridding Kaduna of terrorism, especially banditry and kidnapping. Over the last decade, a few parts of the state have progressively turned into troublespots for residents. But that tide is changing. And what is the secret?

For those not in the know, it is the Kaduna Amnesty programme whereby repentant bandits are disarmed, demobilised and re-integrated into the society. For that, the Sani administration inaugurated the Peace Dialogue Group in collaboration with some federal agencies to engage stakeholders to build trust. The move which was initiated over six months ago saw the handing over of the first set of repentant bandits in Birnin Gwari in November. 

“We are committed to finding a lasting solution to the security challenges that have plagued our state for years,” said Sani at that event.

“The ‘Kaduna Model’ is a comprehensive framework that addresses the root causes of insecurity and provides a sustainable solution to the problem. Let us resolve disputes through dialogue, not violence. Enough is enough. The days of kidnapping, cattle rustling, force levies, and other criminal activities are over.”

However, some critics have asked what stops them from going back to their crimes. And Sani responded during a recent TVC programme, ‘Beyond 100 Days,’ outlining the measures he kick-started to make Kaduna safer. 

“What happened is that there was a trust deficit and some people used money,” the governor explained. 

“But in this one, nobody is getting one naira. And we’re doing this with experts. There is a Head of Counter-Terrorism. And we’re following international best practice. And I can assure you, since this agreement started, nobody in Kaduna State would tell you anybody has been kidnapped in Kaduna. We’re making progress. The communities are jubilating. Everybody in Kaduna knows me. I’m someone that doesn’t believe in religious difference, ethnic difference or political affiliation since I became governor.”

That over 200 kidnapped citizens have been released since the beginning of the programme earlier this year is good testament. The governor agrees the root cause is economic, hence advocates that the solution should go beyond countering with brute force and extend to interventions such as economic, social and political activities. These interventions revolved around working in synergy with other federal security apparatuses like the Office of the National Security Adviser, Army and Police to forge solutions with stakeholders like traditional, religious, community, youth and political leaders in affected communities.

“It’s more of an economic issue to some extent,” Sani said while describing the banditry in the northwest. 

“And that is why I say we cannot address the issue using only a kinetic approach. We must always look at the non-kinetic approach too. If anyone tells us we can address the issue of kidnapping, insurgency in the northwest only using kinetic approach, we would not succeed. I remember the first meeting I had with the Chief of Defence Staff, Christopher Musa, who fortunately is from Kaduna, Zango-Kataf. He was the first person that told me, “’Look, your excellency, you have to focus on a non-kinetic approach. Who am I to argue with him because he’s an expert? He’s someone that was involved in a lot of issues like that and he showed me the results.’”

It is important that Sani has a listening ear and consults different stakeholders for lasting solutions. It is largely as a result of such quality consultations that has resulted in the peace which is returning to Kaduna and everyone is enjoying once again. Take Birnin Gwari for instance. It was a hotbed for terrorists. But that is not the case anymore. Indeed, in October, during a commissioning of a road to link 62 agrarian communities in Birnin Gwari, Sani remarked on how the area used to be kidnappers’ haven. 

“The most important thing is that this process (amnesty) has been in place for the last six months,” Sani said.

“The day we had the first agreement in Birnin Gwari local government, I made it clear to everyone and it was widely covered that the programme started about six months ago. And of course, on that day, you would see there was a representative of the office of National Security Adviser, representative of the Chief of Defence Staff, and all the relevant security agencies in Nigeria were there.”

According to Sani, it is just about six local governments out of the 23 local government areas that are affected by terrorism. 

“When you go to some local governments and you talk to them about insecurity, they have no idea of what you are saying,” said the governor. 

“They would be looking at you. They are farming there. They are doing everything and nobody was kidnapped.”

However, when pleas from the communities bogged down by insurgency through the State Security Council reached government, the Sani administration acted. And the governor talked about how the state government partnered with federal security agencies as well as local stakeholders. He also disclosed that a government team was in Kubau local government a day earlier to re-integrate the repented bandits while those in Kachia local government would be reintegrated in a fortnight.

Over the past decade, insurgency in Kaduna had forced the closure of 400 out of the 4, 000 government schools. To remedy that situation, the Sani-administration re-opened 162 of the schools and arranged them in a secure cluster to prevent a repeat of the ugly incidence of mass abductions of school children.

Major markets are also being reopened. In November, Sani reopened the Birnin-Gwari cattle market. The Kidandan market in Giwa Local Government Area was reopened too. This is coming after both markets had been closed for about 10 years due to insecurity. 

While some persons have raised unfounded claims that the amnesty programme targets Christians and churches, Sani clarified the matter. He said that during the parleys, no one focused on religion. In fact, he said members of the communities, including Christians, were happy about the development. The governor even said he was with the Kaduna State Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) shortly before coming on air.

On the settlement of victims of terrorism, Sani said his administration is collaborating with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to profile any victim’s needs, resettle them and secure for them justice.and compensation.

The philosopher, Confucius, said: “It is only when a mosquito lands on your testicles that you realize there is a way to solve problems without using violence.” This brilliance is similar to what the Kaduna State government is doing to rid the state of criminality. 

“I can assure you, ‘Kaduna Model’ would be copied by other states,” Sani said. “Only few days ago, I was talking with some governors. Even some people that were kidnapped in other states, because of what we started, they are being released. This is not about religion, ethnicity or politics. It’s about bringing peace, unity, tranquility and economic prosperity to the people of Kaduna State.”

It is good this success is not not going unnoticed. Other states, particularly in northern Nigeria should do well to adopt the ‘Kaduna model’. The earlier the better.

Abubakar writes from Kaduna