Christian clerics, others call for arrest of Bafarawa, Yerima over killings in north West

Christian clerics and interfaith leaders have called for the arrest of former governors Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State and Ahmed Sani Yerima of Zamfara State in response to killings in northwestern Nigeria.

The group, known as the Concerned Northern Inter-Faith Clergy for Peace, urged President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action against the two men, whom they accuse of contributing to the rise of banditry in the region. Led by Bishop Sunday Bawa, the clerics held a press conference in Abuja, where they cited a recent video from notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, who alleged that Bafarawa and Yerima had seized grazing reserves and armed local vigilante groups that targeted Fulani communities.

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This, they argued, has exacerbated ethnic tensions and led to a surge in violence, including kidnappings and massacres.

Despite Turji’s status as a confessed terrorist, the clergy affirmed that his claims warrant serious consideration. They pointed to deeper issues of land dispossession and vigilantism as factors contributing to the ongoing crisis. The interfaith coalition, which includes various religious leaders, expressed their solidarity with families affected by banditry, many of whom have turned to President Tinubu for justice given the lack of local resolutions. Bawa referred to the situation as an “unfolding genocide,” citing figures that reveal over 13,485 deaths linked to banditry since 2010, with a dramatic increase in fatalities in recent months.

The statement criticized Bafarawa and Yerima’s responses as evasive and highlighted that both former governors previously claimed banditry was not an issue when they were in office. The clergy emphasized that “time heals no guilt,” suggesting that avoiding accountability will worsen the climate of suspicion and impunity.

They concluded their appeal by urging President Tinubu to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of Bafarawa and Yerima and to initiate a transparent investigation into the allegations, while also addressing underlying issues such as poverty and land disputes.