The Kaduna State Government has strongly refuted a research report that ranked the state among Nigeria’s worst-hit areas for kidnapping, labeling the findings as “false, mischievous and irresponsible.”
The controversy stems from a study by SB Morgen, a Lagos-based geopolitical consulting firm, which alleged that 629 people were kidnapped in Kaduna between July 2024 and June 2025. State officials have categorically rejected these statistics as fabricated.
Commissioner-Designate for Information, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, issued a sharp rebuttal on Thursday, describing the report as “a figment of the imagination of its authors, orchestrated to discredit the Kaduna Peace Model.”
The state government has instead highlighted significant security gains under Governor Uba Sani’s administration, particularly through what it calls the “Kaduna Peace Model.” Officials claim this approach has restored peace to previously volatile areas and enabled the recovery of over 500,000 hectares of abandoned farmland.
According to the government, the security improvements have had tangible economic benefits. Livestock markets in Birnin Gwari and Giwa Local Government Areas, which had been shuttered for over a decade due to insecurity, have reopened and are now thriving.
Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Suleiman Shuaibu, provided operational statistics to support the government’s claims. He reported that security forces conducted 34 operations in April alone, leading to 54 high-profile arrests and the rescue of more than 75 kidnapping victims.
“Several criminal hideouts have been dismantled, and prosecutions are ongoing to ensure justice for victims,” Shuaibu noted.
The state’s security strategy combines traditional law enforcement with what officials describe as “non-kinetic approaches.” These include the establishment of the Kaduna Peace Dialogue Group, which focuses on negotiating with and reintegrating repentant bandits.
Government officials maintain that the security improvements have enabled farmers to return to their fields and boosted agricultural productivity across the state.
“The safety and well-being of our citizens remain paramount,” Shuaibu concluded, urging residents to “disregard the purported kidnapping ranking and instead focus on fostering vigilance, resilience, and sustainable peace in our state.”
