Enemies of Kaduna’s Peace Spreading Fake News About a Kagarko Crisis -By Abdullahi Abubakar Ladan

In the digital age, where a single post can ignite wildfires of fear and division, it is disheartening to witness yet another attempt to undermine the fragile harmony we have painstakingly built in Kaduna State. Over the past few days, social media has been awash with sensational claims of a violent farmers-herders clash in Kagarko Local Government Area, complete with doctored images and exaggerated narratives designed to sow discord. Let me state this unequivocally: these reports are not just false-they are deliberate fabrications orchestrated by enemies of the peace that Governor Uba Sani’s administration has championed. Kagarko is not in crisis; it is thriving in unity, and it is high time we called out this mischief for what it is.

The truth, as affirmed by local stakeholders in a resounding gathering reported by the National Accord Newspaper, is that Kagarko remains a model of coexistence. Community leaders, traditional rulers, farmers, herders, and women groups convened to reaffirm their commitment to peace, dismissing the viral rumors as “politically motivated misinformation.” Mrs. Charity Dangana, the Women’s Leader in Kagarko, captured the collective sentiment when she declared, “We are peaceful people… I was shocked to see social media reports claiming that Kagarko was in crisis. That is not true.” This echoes sentiments from across Southern Kaduna, where leaders have consistently highlighted the role of Governor Sani’s grassroots peace model emphasizing dialogue, early warning systems, and community mediation in preventing escalation of minor disputes.

This is no isolated voice. Reputable outlets like Vanguard, The Guardian, and Tribune Online have corroborated the denials, painting a picture of resilience rather than rupture. In a detailed statement shared by Vanguard on October 9, 2025, leaders from Koro District and Kagarko LGA described the alleged incident as “an isolated disagreement between two individuals, quickly resolved through community structures.” Hon. Muhuyideen A. Umar, Chairman of Kagarko LGA, reinforced this, crediting the state’s investments in peacebuilding for sustaining cooperation among diverse groups. “Our people are living peacefully,” he said, urging the public to ignore the “falsehoods peddled online for political mischief.” Similarly, The Guardian quoted the Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Barr. Magaji H. Danjuma, who hails from the area: “What happened was not a communal crisis… Those trying to create a different impression do not mean well.”

Adding weight to these institutional voices, Hon. Rayyan Hussein, Executive Chairman of Kaduna South Local Government, took to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle on October 11, 2025, to publicly dispute the rumors. In a post that has garnered support from residents, he wrote: “Dear people of Kaduna State… I address the false narratives spread by political adversaries about a supposed crisis in Kagarko Local Government. These enemies of our harmony seek to disrupt the unity we cherish, but they will not succeed.” The Kaduna South LGA’s official account echoed this verbatim, signalling the broader solidarity across local governments.

On X, the platform where these lies proliferated, original posts from credible voices have swiftly countered the narrative. Abdallah Yunus Abdallah, Senior Special Assistant (New Media) to the Governor, shared a comprehensive debunking on October 8, 2025: “Leaders from Koro district and Kagarko Local Government Area have dismissed as false and politically motivated, the social media reports exaggerating a recent misunderstanding… We will not allow outsiders or political detractors to use misinformation to divide us.” Users like @OzoMusty and @manasseh447 amplified Vanguard’s report, emphasizing how the state Governor’s peace efforts have made Kagarko “one of the most stable local governments in Southern Kaduna.” These are not fabricated rebuttals; they are authentic responses from those on the ground, highlighting a community more focused on progress than provocation.

As a good governance advocate who has witnessed the scars of past divisions in Kaduna, I see this as a symptom of a deeper malaise: the reckless spread of unverified information. In my view, these fabricators who are likely opposition elements or attention miners are seeking to embarrass the state government, exploit our shared vulnerabilities for cheap political gain. But the real victims are ordinary Kaduna people: farmers who fear disrupted livelihoods, herders anxious about relocation, and families dreading renewed tensions. A doctored photo or exaggerated tweet can trigger panic buying, school closures, and at it’s worst-mob actions that no amount of data bundles can undo.

This brings me to my urgent plea: Before you hit ‘share,’ pause and verify. Cross-check with official sources, local leaders, or trusted media like those cited above. Platforms like X have fact-checking tools; use them. A little diligence can prevent the kind of damage that erodes trust in institutions and sets back years of peacebuilding. The current administration’s model has reduced communal violence drastically, let’s not hand ammunition to its saboteurs.

Kagarko stands tall as a testament to what unity can achieve. We should build on that by rallying behind its people, honor their voices, and safeguard the peace that defines our state. In the words of the Ere Koro, traditional leader from the area: “Our people are wiser, and the peace we enjoy today is a result of deliberate leadership.” Indeed, it is. Let us keep it that way.

Abdullahi Abubakar Ladan
Good Governance Advocate, write from Kaduna – Nigeria