A group known as the Kaduna Victims’ Coalition has called for justice over alleged human rights violations said to have occurred during the administration of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, between 2015 and 2023.
In a statement released on Monday, the coalition said it represents numerous individuals, families, and communities who experienced years of fear, loss, and suffering during the former governor’s tenure. The group is demanding full accountability for alleged cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary abductions, reprisal violence, and other abuses.
The statement, endorsed by several civil society organisations and prominent individuals, described the period as one marked by widespread violations that left deep scars across communities in Kaduna State. According to the coalition, its members include professionals, traditional leaders, faith leaders, academics, journalists, and public servants drawn from different backgrounds.
Among the cases cited is the abduction and killing of the Agwam Adara, HRH Dr. Maiwada Raphael Galadima, who was kidnapped in October 2018 and later murdered despite the payment of ransom. The coalition noted that the incident occurred during controversial changes to traditional institutions, which it said intensified ethnic and communal tensions. It added that those arrested in connection with the killing have yet to be successfully prosecuted.
The coalition also highlighted the disappearance of Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata, a university lecturer and social media commentator who was abducted from his home in Kaduna in August 2019 and has not been seen since. The group noted that his prolonged absence is approaching the legal threshold for presumption of death under Nigerian law.
According to the statement, the former administration oversaw a pattern of actions that allegedly included the persecution of critics, unlawful demolition of homes, mass dismissal of workers without due process, forced job losses for perceived opponents, and the displacement of citizens into exile. The coalition argued that these actions undermined constitutional safeguards and fostered a climate of impunity.
The group also expressed concern over what it described as recent attempts to rebrand the former governor as a defender of due process and human rights, while victims and families continue to seek justice.
Calling for the rule of law to prevail, the coalition demanded independent investigations, prosecutions where evidence supports them, and closure for victims and their families. It said it is ready to cooperate with law enforcement agencies, judicial bodies, and human rights institutions by providing testimonies and evidence to support any inquiries.
