…Emir, Police involved; victim, family ‘unjustly detained, remanded.’
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Hausa Christian Development Initiative (HACDI), has expressed “great concern” over what it described as “the escalating situation surrounding land dispute in four communities in Ikara LGA of Kaduna State.”
These communities include Dogon Fako, Angwan Tsirya, Kankaru, Angwan Chiroma, all in Danlawal Domain, Ikara District, in Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
President of the Hausa Christian Development Initiative (HACDI), Dr. Daniel Musa, who made the revelation in a statement, also raised allegations of serious rights violation and religious discrimination, citing example of one peaceful Hausa Christian farmer whose land is being seized.
He stated thus: “We find it necessary to bring this matter to public attention due to the serious human rights violations and religious discrimination involved.
“It has come to our notice that, Mr. Ishaya Jarmai, a peaceful Hausa Christian farmer, and others are facing an unlawful and forceful attempt by the Village Head, Sani Sambo Mohammed, a traditional ruler in the area, to seize four (4) of his farm lands, totaling over 40 hectares, which Mr. Ishaya Jarmai as well as other villagers legally acquired through purchase. This is in addition to the ones already seized prior to this time,” he stated.
He also explained that, despite the case being investigated by the DSS and handled through legal channels, with outcomes affirming that Mr. Ishaya Jarmai is the rightful owner of the said four (4) farmlands, the Village Head has continued to manipulate the system with the support of certain individuals in higher authority.
Musa stated that, shockingly, Sani Sambo Mohammed escalated the matter by forwarding it to the Emirate Council of Zazzau, claiming the land is a ‘Forest Reserve’ (Haràba), a claim that is not backed by any verified documentation.
Worse of all, the Ishaya and some of his family members were unjustly detained for several days, in 2023 (in the Police Station and prison) and in 2025 (in the Area Command in Zaria) without due process.
“The family was also denied access to present their case before the Emir, despite several attempts and petitions written. The Village Head brags that, as long as certain influential people like the Wazirin Zazzau and the Sarkin Ayyuka, in the emirate are alive, Mr Ishaya’s efforts to reclaim his land will never come to fruition,” the statement added.
Musa said that further investigations conducted by HACDI and independent sources confirmed that the lands in question are not a Forest Reserve, lame ting that Sani Sambo Mohammed has now resorted to violence and intimidation, sending armed thugs to destroy farm produce worth millions of naira, and inflicting injuries on members of Mr. Ishaya’s family.
“This was in violation of a Court Order obtained on 10th July 2025, from the High Court of Justice, Dogarawa Zaria, where Sani Sambo and all his agents were restrained from going to any of the lands in question, pending final hearing.
“After this order, he mobilized his touts, on 20th July 2025, where they went and upturned an already planted germinating maize and rice farms, beating the hell out of some of Mr Ishaya Jarmai family members, who were there to gather evidences of the crimes being committed.
“On the 21st July, they went back and uprooted a pepper farm, carting it away, and then upturning both the pepper and another soya beans farms again,” the statement explained.
The statement added that the attacks have instilled fear and tension in the surrounding villages, with threats issued that anyone, who intervened, would face lethal consequences.
After the incidence, the statement said the matter was reported to the Zaria Area Command where statements of victims were taken, also adding that after that, the police allegedly requested for money before arrests of the perpetrators could be made.
It added that, after giving them the money, the police allegedly said that the criminals will be invited the following Friday (5 days after the crime was committed).
The statement explained that, “On Thursday before the Friday, the police notified the victims that they won’t be able to do the case that Friday, as they will be going for operation in Niger State,” he stated, pointing out that the Village Head will be invited the following Wednesday (10 days after the crime was done).
Accordingly, police asked that the victims should come to the Station on that day but expressed surprise that on Wednesday, the suspects refused to show up in the Station and the victims were only told to “exercise more patience.”
According to the statement, HACDI is demanding for immediate intervention by relevant state and federal authorities to stop the illegal farming activities on the farm lands seized, and stop the threats to the lives and other properties of the victims.
The statement demand justice for Mr. Ishaya Jarmai and all those affected, and the return of their legally-owned land, and stressed the need for investigation and prosecution of all individuals involved in the violence, abuse of power and flagrant violation of court orders.
The statement urged for protection of minority communities in Dogon Fako, Angwan Tsirya, Kankaru, Chiroma and other vulnerable areas of Kaduna State, praying for an end to religiously-motivated marginalization and oppression of Christians in Northern Nigeria.
It also called for justice, equality, and peace, pointing out that HACDI will not remain silent, while their people suffer oppression under the guise of ‘tradition, politics or religion.’
“We stand firmly for the rule of law and the dignity of all citizens, regardless of faith or status,” the statement noted.