In a forceful statement that underscores a growing national crisis, Nigeria’s foremost Islamic body, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), has issued a stark condemnation of the brutal attack on Kasuwar Daji market in Niger State. The assault, which occurred on January 9, 2026, resulted in the deaths of at least 30 innocent civilians, marking another grim chapter in the country’s protracted struggle with insecurity.
The JNI, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, articulated its position through Secretary-General Prof. Khalid Aliyu. The statement, emanating from Kaduna, transcends mere condemnation to present a detailed, multi-point demand for concrete governmental action—a shift from rhetoric to accountability that resonates with widespread public frustration.
Beyond Condemnation: A Prescriptive Framework for Leadership
The JNI’s demands form a coherent crisis management and security reform blueprint. They begin with a call for symbolic leadership: government officials must immediately visit the affected communities. This act of physical presence and solidarity is crucial for healing and demonstrates that the state acknowledges the suffering of its citizens, countering the perception of an aloof governing class.
Following this, the JNI insists on a national address by the President. The purpose here is twofold: to defuse the palpable public anger that often fuels dangerous cycles of communal reprisal, and to clearly articulate the state’s strategy. Such a broadcast is a tool of national unity and a formal declaration of intent, providing a measure of psychological security to a traumatized populace.
Accountability and Systemic Overhaul
Perhaps the most significant and politically charged demand is the prosecution of officials found negligent in their duties. This moves the conversation from abstract “insecurity” to specific governmental failure. It targets the culture of impunity and complacency within security and administrative agencies, suggesting that consequences for dereliction of duty are a necessary deterrent.
The JNI further calls for a “comprehensive plan” from security agencies to address all national security threats, with specific mention of tackling the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. This point strikes at a root cause of the violence. Nigeria’s region is awash with illicit weapons, a factor that transforms local disputes and criminality into massacres of the scale seen at Kasuwar Daji. Any effective strategy must include robust border control, intelligence-driven disarmament campaigns, and regional cooperation to stem the flow of arms.
Immediate Relief and Spiritual Resolve
Acknowledging the immediate humanitarian fallout, the statement urges prompt assistance for affected communities and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). This highlights the cascading effects of such attacks: beyond the death toll, they create displacement, economic ruin, and social dislocation that can destabilize regions for years.
Finally, the JNI appeals to the Muslim Ummah (community) for intensified prayers. This spiritual dimension, while distinct from policy, is a vital component of community response, offering solace and fostering a sense of collective resilience in the face of despair.
The Kasuwar Daji market massacre is not an isolated incident but part of a tragic pattern of violence affecting rural communities across Nigeria’s north-central and northwestern regions. These areas have become a complex battleground involving bandit militias, ethnic militias, and in some cases, extremist elements. The JNI’s statement, therefore, serves as a critical intervention from a major societal pillar. It reflects a weary public’s demand for a transition from mourning to meaningful action, from vague promises to a tangible, accountable security strategy that protects the most fundamental right of citizens: the right to life.
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
Source: NAN News
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