Setting the Record Straight: The Southern Kaduna Crisis Did Not Start with El-Rufai
Setting the Record Straight: The Southern Kaduna Crisis Did Not Start with El-Rufai
Southern Kaduna has long been a flashpoint of ethno-religious conflict in Nigeria. From as early as the 1980s and into the 1990s, waves of violence, tension, and bloodshed plagued the region well before Mallam Nasir El-Rufai assumed office as the Governor of Kaduna State in 2015.
The tragic events that have unfolded over decades in Kafanchan, Zangon Kataf, and other parts of Southern Kaduna are deeply rooted in historical, ethnic, religious, and land ownership grievances.
To now suddenly reduce this deeply complex issue to a byproduct of El-Rufai’s administration is not only intellectually dishonest but also deliberately manipulative.
A Historical Overview
Long before El-Rufai entered public office, Southern Kaduna was already dealing with periodic bloodshed. The 1992 Zangon Kataf crisis remains one of the most notorious episodes, where intense ethnic and religious violence claimed hundreds of lives.
The tension between the Hausa-Fulani settlers and indigenous ethnic groups such as the Atyap, Bajju, and Jaba has simmered for decades, often erupting into violence over farmland, political representation, and religious differences.
The post-election violence of 2011, which affected many areas of Kaduna State, also led to retaliatory attacks and brutal killings in Southern Kaduna.
The archives are rich with details of clashes, retaliations, and targeted killings going as far back as the early 2000s, none of which can be traced to El-Rufai’s governance.
Twisting Facts for Political Gimmicks
Today, some political actors and commentators, including social media personalities like Reno Omokri, are rewriting history to scapegoat Nasir El-Rufai.
Their agenda is clear: to paint one of Northern Nigeria’s most principled and fearless leaders as a villain. Why? Because he refused to play politics with insecurity and he refused to bow to religious or ethnic pressure in governance.
El-Rufai’s decision to run a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2019, with Dr. Hadiza Balarabe a medical doctor from Southern Kaduna as his running mate, is still a thorn in the flesh of those who wanted power on the basis of faith and tribe, not competence.
Ironically, they ignore the fact that Hadiza is not only from Southern Kaduna but a competent technocrat who has served with loyalty and diligence. But because she is a Muslim, they claim their zone was “sidelined”.
This reveals that the real problem isn’t regional representation, but deep-seated religious bias.
El-Rufai’s Unyielding Stand Against Banditry
Unlike others who sought political mileage by pampering criminals, El-Rufai remained firm. He publicly opposed paying ransom to bandits, and his government never entertained the idea of granting them amnesty.
Compare this to the actions of Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina, who publicly admitted to forgiving and dialoguing with bandits. Where were the critics then?
Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara, now a Minister of Defence, once presided over a state ravaged by banditry far worse than what Kaduna experienced.
Yet, the same voices that scream “El-Rufai is supporting bandits” are silent when it comes to Matawalle or Masari.
Why? Because those men did not challenge their narratives, nor did they threaten their sense of political entitlement.
The Hypocrisy Must End
The truth is, El-Rufai is being targeted not for what he did wrong, but for what he did right. He stood firm, governed with resolve, and challenged both Islamic extremists and Christian tribalists alike. He made enemies for being bold, not for being biased.
To blame him for a crisis that began decades before his leadership is lazy propaganda at best and malicious slander at worst. Southern Kaduna deserves peace, healing, and honest conversation not political opportunism weaponized by religious division.
Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is one of our best. We will not sit by and allow his legacy to be tarnished by baseless accusations fueled by ethno-religious sentiment. Let history and facts be our guide not emotion and manipulation.
– Shamsudeen Ibrahim
