The Kaduna branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Tuesday led residents of six communities in Igabi Local Government Area in a peaceful protest against what they described as “illegal demolitions, human rights violations, and blatant disregard for court orders” allegedly carried out by the Commander of the Infantry Corps Centre, Jaji, Maj. Gen. Usman Yusuf.
The affected communities include Mallam Auta, Ungwan Yohanna, Ungwan Aboki, Sabon Ungwan Loya, Ungwan Railway, and Ungwan Alhassan.
Protesters—comprising men, women, children, and the elderly—marched with lawyers to the Kaduna Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Obey Court Orders Now,” “Military is Not Above the Law,” and “Stop Illegal Demolitions in Igabi.” They chanted solidarity songs while demanding protection of their ancestral homes and farmlands.
Addressing journalists, the Chairman of the NBA Kaduna Branch, Lawal Aliyu, condemned the demolitions, forced evictions, and alleged arbitrary arrests by military personnel despite subsisting court injunctions.
Aliyu claimed that on August 15, Ungwan Aboki was demolished “under the cover of darkness” by soldiers, leaving hundreds homeless. “Women, children, the elderly, and even persons with disabilities were thrown into the open without shelter. This is a gross violation of their rights and dignity,” he lamented.
He also warned that Mallam Auta had been marked for demolition despite multiple rulings of the Kaduna High Court between 2018 and 2021 ordering all parties to maintain the status quo.
“The commander’s deliberate disobedience of these injunctions is contempt of court and a dangerous affront to our constitutional democracy,” Aliyu said. He cited the Supreme Court’s ruling in Military Governor of Lagos State v. Ojukwu (1986) as proof that no authority—civilian or military—is above the law.
The NBA and affected residents demanded an immediate halt to demolitions, particularly in Hayin Mallam Auta, and called for the release of persons allegedly arrested without warrants. They urged the Federal and Kaduna State Governments, civil society groups, and the international community to intervene to avert what they described as a looming humanitarian crisis.
In response, Maj. Gen. Yusuf defended the Army’s actions, stating that the affected settlements posed a direct security risk to Jaji Cantonment, a strategic military training facility.
“The presence of unauthorised settlements within Jaji Cantonment constitutes a serious security threat and hampers training activities. National security imperatives guide our actions,” he said.
Yusuf maintained that no lawful houses were demolished, only “illegal structures” within the cantonment, and noted that the Army had been engaging the Kaduna State Government on plans to relocate affected residents.
“We are mindful of the plight of civilians, but we must balance that with overriding security concerns,” he added.
