From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
Former Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th Assembly, has urged northern political leaders to confront the root causes of insecurity in the region and stop exploiting the situation for political gain ahead of the 2027 elections.
During a courtesy visit from the Open Heart Foundation and the Women Empowerment Centre in Kaduna, Sani delivered a compelling critique of political hypocrisy, failed leadership, and the worsening insecurity that has plagued northern Nigeria for over a decade.
He identified factors such as almajirci (the system of street children), mass illiteracy, poverty, and underdevelopment as root causes of insecurity. Sani emphasized the need for northern leaders to tackle these issues directly, stating, “The terrorists in the North-East are northerners. The bandits in the North-West speak Hausa, Fulfulde, and Kanuri, not Mandarin or French. This is our problem, and only we can solve it.”
Sani encouraged civic organizations to hold the government accountable, warning them against becoming pawns in political disputes. “Continue to speak out, but never allow yourselves to be used to undermine our security agencies,” he urged. “The future of the North depends on courage, honesty, and unity. The question remains: When will the North sit down and sincerely confront its problems?”
He lamented, “For 15 years, northern Nigeria has been a theater of bloodshed,” recounting the numerous attacks by terrorists and bandits across the North-East and North-West. “Schools, churches, mosques, and villages—nothing has been spared since 2013.”
Sani drew parallels between the region’s security collapse and crises in neighboring countries like Chad, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, warning that insurgent networks now operate across West Africa “with increasing boldness.” He accused some political figures of celebrating violence to undermine the government, stating, “Some of the loudest voices today were silent when thousands were kidnapped under a government they called ‘our own.’ Now they attempt to weaponize insecurity as 2027 approaches. Some even rejoice when soldiers fall. This is immoral.”
He highlighted several high-profile school attacks in recent years, including those at Bethel Baptist High School, Greenfield University, and the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, noting that many victims spent years in captivity while leaders looked away.
Sani also criticized former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who recently alleged that over one billion naira was paid to bandits by the current administration under Governor Uba Sani. “El-Rufai is on record admitting he once appeased bandits. During his tenure, Kaduna witnessed some of its worst divisions. He even withdrew his own son from a nearby school due to insecurity. The irony is loud.”
While stating that Kaduna is not yet safe, Sani acknowledged the current administration’s efforts in reducing religious tension and improving security in hotspots like Birnin Gwari. “Governor Uba Sani never claimed 100% peace, but the relative calm and reintegration of communities must be recognized,” he noted, adding that President Bola Tinubu’s government has also made measurable progress.
Sani dismissed the expectation that external powers would resolve Nigeria’s security crisis. “The United States will not save us. Europe will not. Our salvation lies in strengthening our armed forces and uniting as a nation of citizens. Insecurity does not stop at borders,” he said.
He warned that as elections approach, attacks on schools, churches, and mosques may increase, as “some actors view bloodshed as a route to power.”
Earlier, the Acting Chairperson of the Open Heart Foundation, Hassan Abdullahi Zubairu, and the Chairperson of the Women Skill Empowerment Centre, Rabiatu Nasiru, expressed their anguish over the kidnapping of students and the overarching insecurity across the country. “It is with heavy hearts that we visit you today,” they said. “We are saddened as mothers that our children are kidnapped and suffering in the hands of bandits. We call on the government and well-meaning Nigerians to ensure that these children and any other kidnapped victims are safely returned.”
The leadership of the two Kaduna-based NGOs urged Senator Shehu Sani, as a human rights activist, to take their concerns to the appropriate authorities to help rid the country of insecurity.
