Subject: Ongoing Land Dispute and Religious Discrimination in Dogon Fako, Anguwan Tsirya, Kankaru, Anguwan Chiroma, all in Danlawal Domain, Ikara District, Ikara LGA, Kaduna State
The Hausa Christian Development Initiative (HACDI) expresses deep concern over the escalating situation surrounding land dispute in Dogon Fako, Anguwan Tsirya, Kankaru, Anguwan Chiroma, all in Danlawal Domain, Ikara District, Ikara Local Government Area of Kaduna State. 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, totalling 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.
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.
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. Moreover, Mr. Ishaya and some of his family members were unjustly detained for several days in 2023 (in the police station and prison) and 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.
Further investigations conducted by HACDI and independent sources confirm that the lands in question are not a forest reserve. Alarmingly, Mr. 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 germinating maize and rice farms, beatings 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.
These attacks have instilled fear in the surrounding villages, with threats issued that anyone who intervenes would face lethal consequences.
After the incidence, the matter was reported to the Zaria area command where statements of victims were taken. After that, the police requested for money before arrests of the perpetrators can be made and after giving them the money, the police now said that the criminals will be invited the following Friday (5 days after the crime was committed). On the 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, that the village head will be invited by the following Wednesday (10 days after the crime was done), that the victims should come to the station that day. On Wednesday, the suspects refused to show up in the station and the victims were only told to exercise more patience, that now that neither Sani Sambo nor the other suspects appear in the station, that he (Sani Sambo) being the major actor, will be traced and arrested and by the time he is arrested, all other suspects will appear i the station. Thirteen days after, on 2nd August 2025, 13 days after the incidence) a motion on notice and an order enforcing fundamental human rights was served on the victims and the police, restraining any of them from initiating any arrest on any of the suspects pending hearing.
We have attached pictures and videos as evidence of the ongoing destruction of farm crops and assault on the victims.
Our Demands:
- 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.
- Justice for Mr. Ishaya Jarmai and all those affected, and the return of their legally-owned land.
- Investigation and prosecution of all individuals involved in the violence, abuse of power and flagrant violation of court orders.
- Protection of minority communities in Dogon Fako, Anguwan Tsirya, Kankaru, Chiroma and other vulnerable areas of Kaduna State.
- An end to religiously-motivated marginalization and oppression of Christians in Northern Nigeria.
This press release is a call to justice, equality, and peace. HACDI will not remain silent while our 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.
Signed,
Dr. Daniel Musa
President, Hausa Christian Development Initiative (HACDI)
Email: hausachristiandev.initiative@gmail.com
Phone: +2348086678569
