Kurmin Kaduna Under Siege: Peace Group Urges FG, Kaduna Government to Act

Kurmin Kaduna Under Siege: Peace Group Urges FG, Kaduna Government to Act 

Residents of Kurmin Kaduna and neighboring settlements say they can no longer sleep peacefully as armed attackers now raid homes, farmlands and highways unchecked, kidnapping victims and imposing ransom demands that have impoverished many families.

In a statement issued this week and addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Uba Sani, the Minister of Defence and top security officials, the Peace Revival Awareness Initiative, Kurmin Kaduna Chapter, warned that the security situation has deteriorated beyond the capacity of local vigilantes and traditional leaders.

The Chairman of the group, Shu'lbu Kurmin Mashi, said fear has become a daily reality for the people. “For months now, our communities have lived under siege,” Mashi said. “Gunmen break into houses at night. They assault farmers on their farms. They mount roadblocks on our highways. Pupils are too scared to attend school. Many households have abandoned their homes.”
According to the group, years of peace-building through community dialogue and sensitization are now being eroded by relentless attacks.

The letter, also copied to the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, the DSS Director in Kaduna, and the Commissioner for Security and Home Affairs, outlined four key demands.
First, the group is asking for immediate deployment of security forces.  “We are demanding round the clock military patrols and quick response units in Kurmin Kaduna. We also want a permanent military base or police outpost established in our community,” Mashi stated.

Second, they called for coordinated operations to flush out criminals.  “Conduct targeted clearance operations in the forests and border areas surrounding Kurmin where these bandits hide,” he said.

Third, the group urged government to work with community structures on intelligence. “Partner directly with local leaders on intelligence gathering and community policing. We know our terrain and we are ready to assist,” he added.

Mashi said the appeal was born out of desperation, not politics. “We are not making unreasonable requests. We are simply asking for the right to live peacefully,” he said. “With our gallant security personnel deployed here, we believe peace can be restored. Our people deserve to sleep soundly, cultivate their farms, and send their children to school without looking over their shoulders.”

The Peace Revival Awareness Initiative said it remains committed to promoting non violence and will continue to support government efforts through public enlightenment and cooperation with security agencies.

The group described the current crisis as “a matter of life and death” for thousands of law abiding residents in Kurmin Kaduna and its environs, and urged the federal and state governments to act without delay.