The Kaduna State government has adopted a novel approach to combat years of violence and kidnappings, offering bandits access to education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities. According to the state’s Commissioner for Information, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, this initiative, known as the Kaduna Peace Model, marks a deliberate shift from confrontation to conversation, focusing on restoring humanity through dialogue and development.

Maiyaki made this disclosure at a workshop on Peace Journalism, organized by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, in collaboration with the Global Peace Foundation Nigeria and the Ministry of Information. He emphasized that building trust is crucial, stating, “You cannot bomb peace into existence; you must build it with trust.”

The commissioner explained that the turning point came when leaders of armed groups requested the government to reopen markets, schools, and healthcare centers that had been closed due to insecurity. The government agreed, as these are basic human needs, not ransom payments. Between 2015 and 2023, Kaduna recorded 1,160 security incidents, resulting in 4,876 deaths, with thousands kidnapped or displaced. In 2021 alone, 1,192 people were killed, and 3,348 abducted, forcing the closure of 142 schools and 192 health facilities.

However, through a non-kinetic approach anchored on intelligence sharing, dialogue, and socio-economic inclusion, in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser, Kaduna is gradually reclaiming its image. The joint ONSA-Kaduna Peace Committee has safely released over 500 captives via negotiations without any payment of ransom or resort to force. Maiyaki noted, “We are seeing trust where there was fear, and cooperation where there was hostility.”

This approach has yielded positive results, with the state transitioning from being declared a “red zone” by the international community to a more stable environment. The Kaduna Peace Model serves as a testament to the effectiveness of dialogue and development in addressing security challenges. As the state continues to implement this initiative, it is likely to have a lasting impact on the region’s stability and security.