Kaduna, Nigeria – The Southern Kaduna Muslim Ummah coalition on Saturday held a press briefing to address what it described as ongoing misrepresentations and manipulative narratives about the region.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Kabir Muhammad, Chairman of the Muslim Youth Foundation of Southern Kaduna (MYFOSKA), accused certain interest groups of spreading misleading information and blackmailing successive administrations for political and personal gains.
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Muhammad emphasized that Southern Kaduna is not exclusively of one faith, highlighting that Muslims have been indigenous to the area long before the 19th-century Jihad of Uthman Dan Fodio. He noted that Muslims in the region have historically owned land, engaged in farming and trade, and contributed significantly to education, security, and economic development.
“Verified demographic studies show that Muslims make up around 40 percent of Southern Kaduna’s population,” Muhammad stated, stressing that these figures are often deliberately distorted by elites seeking to manipulate public opinion.
He further alleged that recurring crises in Southern Kaduna predate recent governments and are being prolonged by vested interests who benefit from instability. According to him, such actors have weaponized violence, using killings and intimidation as tools to pressure government while inciting division and insecurity.
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Muhammad urged the government to remain firm against blackmail and called on the media to uphold professionalism by avoiding propaganda and ensuring balanced reporting.
He also appealed to all stakeholders to support Governor Uba Sani’s administration, praising its commitment to peace, inclusivity, and development. Muhammad credited the governor’s leadership for the relative calm currently being experienced in the state but warned that those seeking to destabilize the government must be carefully monitored.
“The peace we are enjoying today is a product of deliberate efforts to unite the people of Kaduna. It is crucial to reject divisive tendencies and embrace inclusivity,” he added.
The briefing also had representatives from the Southern Kaduna Development Association (SOKAMUDA) in attendance, signaling a united front among Muslim groups in the region.
