Hope Amid Ruins as Gbagyi Christians Plan Return
By Luka Binniyat and Mike James Odeh.
(Kaduna) – At least 20,000 displaced Christians of the Gbagyi (“ba-gwee”) ethnic group are preparing to return to their ancestral homes in the violence-ravaged counties of Chikun and Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria, after six years in exile.
By all accounts, the Gbagyi people in central Nigeria have been the victims of land-grabbing both by the Federal government and by hostile takeovers by other tribes in the region. This ethnicity was the majority tribe occupying the land that is today the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In the last 10 years, Gbagyi villages in Kaduna State have suffered attacks and takeovers by the so-called Fulani ethnic militia, a violent faction of the Fulani tribe, which claims up to 10 million members in Nigeria.
Their planned return comes in the wake of a controversial amnesty program announced by Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State in November 2024, which granted clemency to Fulani ethnic militias—commonly referred to as “bandits”—who pledged to halt attacks on Christian communities.
A Journey of Courage and Uncertainty
Journalists from TruthNigeria joined a group of internally displaced persons (IDPs) on a reconnaissance mission to their former villages to assess safety for resettlement following the state’s peace accord with the Fulani militias.
Riding on about 14 motorcycles and escorted by a dozen volunteer guards armed with locally-made shotguns, the convoy set out from Kaduna city and veered off the Kaduna–Birnin Gwari expressway onto a narrow, untarred track, flanked by savannah scrub and thornbush. Along the way, they passed through deserted villages.
The mission was organized under the Rumana and Environs Displaced Persons Development Association (REDPDA)—a grassroots body advocating for the safe return and rehabilitation of displaced Gbagyi communities.
Rumana Gbagyi: A Community in Ruins
The group arrived at the ruined village of Rumana Gbagyi, a once-vibrant community now blanketed in silence and decay.
“This is my village,” said Caleb Nayaro, 51, a senior civil servant with the Kaduna State Ministry of Works. “This is my first time here since January 2020.”
Nayaro pointed toward the ruins: collapsed homes, a vandalized primary school, two churches without roofs, and the remains of the community’s only clinic.
“We had everything—livestock, crops, peace. But bandits destroyed it all,” he said, visibly emotional.
The Fateful Day of January 6, 2020
Nayaro recalled the day Rumana fell. “They came from the east and west—over 100 motorcycles, each with two armed Fulani militia. We tried to defend ourselves with what little we had.”
Although ill-equipped and outnumbered, the villagers mounted a defense to enable the evacuation of women, children, and the elderly.
“We lost 16 of our youths in the battle,” he said. “But we also killed seven of the invaders. I saw their corpses as we retreated,” he said.
After the fall of Rumana, nearby villages began mass evacuations, abandoning what they could not carry.
Returning Despite the Pain
The convoy continued deeper into the bush for another 20 minutes, encountering similar scenes of devastation. At Malomo, another ruined village, a hulking man named Yakubu Sarki, 48, guided reporters to what remained of their church.
“This was our sanctuary,” he said. “But after the attack on Rumana, we knew we had been overpowered. We had no choice but to flee.”
Now, seeing no signs of hostility from the Fulani in recent weeks, Sarki and others believe the time has come to return and rebuild.
“This rainy season, we are going back,” he declared.
Survivor’s Testimony: A Journey Through Pain
At Hayin Damisa, a village northwest of Malomo, 28-year-old Steven Isaac Yari, a biochemistry graduate of Kaduna State University, dismounted from his bike and limped toward the group.
“I thank Jesus Christ for sparing my life to see my village again,” he said.
In May 2024, Yari ventured into the village and was captured by armed Fulani.
“They beat me mercilessly and shot me below the ankle to stop me from escaping,” he said.
He was held captive until his family paid two separate ransoms totaling ₦10 million (about $6,600).
“That’s why I limp. But with today’s peaceful visit, I believe we’ll rebuild. By God’s grace, Hayin Damisa will live again,” he said.
Living in Dignity: Why They Must Return
Back in Gonin Gora, a suburb of Kaduna where many Gbagyi displaced persons have taken shelter, former REDPDA chairman Habila Sarkinoma spoke to TruthNigeria.
“Seventeen communities fled on January 6, 2020, after the Rumana attack. Over 20,000 people scattered across Kaduna and beyond, seeking safety.”
He explained the unbearable conditions in the IDP camps: “We live with daily humiliation. We have no food, no work, no dignity. That’s why we are going back.”
Despite skepticism over the sincerity of the Fulani militias’ promise, Sarkinoma expressed hope.
“We trust God that they will keep their word. As Christians, we leave justice to the Lord, and we are determined to piece back our shattered lives.”
A Risky Gamble for Peace
The return of displaced Gbagyi Christians marks a bold step toward reclaiming ancestral lands despite past horrors.
The Kaduna State government’s amnesty program remains controversial, but for the displaced, staying in limbo is no longer an option.
Whether peace will hold in the rural hinterlands of Kaduna remains uncertain. But for the returning villagers, the longing for home—and a life lived in dignity, is worth the risk.
Luka Binniyat and Mike Odeh are conflict reporters for TruthNigeria based in Kaduna.
