Ruling Opens Door to future atrocities: victim’s relative.

 By Lawrence Zongo

(Minna) Emotions are running high in ancient Nupe land as Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State granted unconditional state pardon to eleven convicted murderers involved in a gruesome 2021 massacre that shocked the Gaba community in Lavun county. The Nupe are the dominant tribe in Niger State.

The convicts, who were sentenced to death for killing seven unarmed civilians during a so-called communal clash, had their sentences lifted in what the state government described as a “peacebuilding gesture”—a move that has provoked intense outrage and sorrow.

For the people of Gaba, a predominantly Nupe-speaking community located in the heart of Lavun County, this decision is not just a legal reversal—it is the reopening of fresh wounds. “The Holy Gospel and the Holy Koran say, ‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth!’ How can you pardon condemned murderers who even removed some body parts of their victims?” asked Hosea Shallom, a Nupe ethnic leader in a Facebook post.

 “It means anybody can now kill and walk away freely. What a sad day for the Gaba community!” Shallom posted.  The Gaba community, nestled near the southern banks of the River Kaduna in Niger State, is home to the Nupe people—an ethnic group known for its rich legacy of Christian and Muslim culture, traditional values, and agricultural lifestyle. Gaba, like many other Nupe communities, values rule of law, communal solidarity, and the preservation of human dignity.

But in 2021, Gaba’s peace was shattered when a violent clash with the neighboring Amfani community escalated into what many describe as an unprovoked massacre. According to court records and eyewitness testimony, seven men from Gaba were ambushed, murdered, and their bodies gruesomely mutilated. Body parts were reported missing, suggesting ritualistic or symbolic desecration.

 Following the atrocity, elders from Gaba urged their youth to refrain from retaliation. They instead sought redress through Nigeria’s justice system. After a lengthy trial, eleven men—Mohammed Mohammed, Nana Alhaji Sheshi, Isah Baba Nmadu, Mohammed Mohammed Ndabida, Abubakar Baba Salihu, Baba Mohammed Shaba, Adamu Mohammed Babaminin, Haruna Mohammed, Isah Mohammed Alhaji Inuwa, Ibrahim Mohammed, and Mohammed Isah—were convicted and sentenced to capital punishment.

Shocking State Pardon

On May 28, 2025, Governor Bago exercised his constitutional powers of prerogative of mercy to pardon all eleven men. The announcement was made by the State Attorney General, Barrister Nasiru Mu’azu, who stated that the decision followed a “series of reconciliatory meetings” between the Gaba and Amfani communities. “This is part of efforts to ensure lasting peace,” said Mu’azu. “Other communities with similar grievances are encouraged to submit written requests for consideration.”

 But Gaba residents insist there was no such reconciliation. They argue that no apology was issued, no compensation was made, and no truth was told. “You can’t set killers free in the name of constitutional rights. Those people who killed fathers, brothers, and husbands are still alive and walking,” said John Nmadu, a grieving relative of one of the slain responding to the Governor. “If the governor truly knows this happened, it means he’s encouraging future atrocities with the hope of eventual state pardon,” Nmadu said.

‘Justice Betrayed’ – A Community Speaks

In an open letter released by the Gaba Development Association, community leaders condemned the pardon as a betrayal of justice and called for its reversal. “This will go down in history as the most dangerous misuse of executive power in Niger State,” according to the letter. “The governor has, knowingly or unknowingly, devalued human life, undermined the judiciary, and created a precedent that could trigger further violence.”

Observers warn that the pardon may also demoralize law enforcement officers, many of whom risked their lives during the investigation and trial. It also sends a chilling message to victims across the state: that justice can be reversed by political maneuvering.

Parallels with Boko Haram

Many Nigerians see a disturbing pattern emerging. The federal government has, over the past decade, released thousands of so-called “repentant” Boko Haram (Western Learning Forbidden) militants under a controversial reintegration program. Critics argue that many of these insurgents return to terror groups, while victims of terrorism in the Northeast—especially Christians—continue to suffer displacement, poverty, and unhealed trauma.

 Though the 11 men in this case are not members of Boko Haram, the logic behind their release mirrors similar justifications: “peacebuilding” and “reconciliation.” But can true peace be built without justice? The Nupe people are one of Nigeria’s most culturally significant ethnic groups, primarily residing in Niger, Kwara, and Kogi States. They are known for their intricate weaving, ironwork, and long-standing monarchical institutions. Islam is widely practiced among the Nupe, and traditional leadership plays a critical role in dispute resolution and community identity.

The community of Gaba prides itself on its peaceful nature and commitment to the rule of law, according to sources in Gaba who spoke to TruthNigeria. That trust in institutions is now hanging by a thread.

A Dangerous Precedent

Human-rights activists and legal scholars also have warned that this decision could undermine Nigeria’s fragile justice system and embolden communities to seek vigilante justice. “Executive clemency is not a tool for appeasement or political convenience,” Barrister Nabila Abdulrahman, a legal analyst in Abuja, told TruthNigeria.

“It must be reserved for exceptional circumstances, such as proven innocence, rehabilitation, or judicial error—not mass murder,” he said. “Gaba was told to trust the courts. They did. Now the same system has turned its back on them,” she added.

Call for Reversal

The people of Gaba have launched a campaign under the hashtag JusticeForGaba, demanding transparency into the decision-making process that led to the pardon. They are calling on national and international human-rights organizations to intervene.

“We are not just mourning our dead. We are mourning the death of justice,” said Amina Isah, whose brother was one of the victims. As the debate rages, one thing is clear: without accountability, there can be no peace—only silence that echoes with injustice.

Lawrence Zongo is a human-rights defender and conflict reporter for TruthNigeria.