Kaduna: One State, Two Deals For Different Folks

By Luka Binniyat

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: Ummulkhairi Usman Aliyu, an innocent, law-abiding Muslim woman, mother, and teacher, was brutally killed by a mob on June 14, 2026 in Maraban Jos, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. She was wrongly accused of child kidnapping.

The horrifying images of her body being set ablaze by an illiterate mob shocked the nation and were condemned by every right-thinking person.

It was therefore a welcome development when Governor Uba Sani visited her family and made the promises widely reported in the media. That is exactly what is expected of a responsible leader who has empathy for his electorates and sees the protection of lives and property as the primary reason for being elected to be governor.

God bless him for that gesture, and I pray he keeps his promises.

The question, however, is whether every citizen of Kaduna State matters equally to the Governor, just as the unfortunate Ummulkhairi Usman Aliyu.

I ask this because on June 16, 2026, two days after her heinous killing, nine Christians were murdered in Unguwan Magaji, Kamuru Ward, Chawai Chiefdom, Kauru Local Government Area of Southern Kaduna by suspected armed attackers. Among those killed were children aged four, five and six. The massacre made headlines across Nigeria and beyond for several days.

At least 11 others were seriously injured and are still receiving treatment.

Yet, I am not aware of the Kaduna State Government issuing any statement condemning the attack or offering condolences to the grieving community, not to talk of visiting the community.

Mum is the response of the government.

Yesterday, Saturday, June 27, 2026, the victims, who were ordinary, law-abiding citizens just like Ummulkhairi, were laid to rest in a single mass grave after a solemn Catholic funeral attended by a large crowd of mourners in the village

From all available information, Governor Uba Sani neither attended the funeral nor sent a representative. I am also unaware of any assistance his government has offered to the bereaved families or the injured survivors.

But it did not end there.

Not a single elected representative of the area in either the National Assembly or the Kaduna State House of Assembly attended the burial or sent a representative, even though Senator Sunday Marshall Katung had earlier issued a statement condemning the genocidal crime.

Even more glaring was the absence of the Chairman of Kauru Local Government Council.

Based on these events, is it wrong for anyone to conclude that in Kaduna State today, there appears to be one standard for some citizens and another for others?

Luka Binniyat is a native of Zamando village, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Southern Kaduna.