society
A River of Ashes: The April 2011 Massacres in Southern Kaduna
A River of Ashes: The April 2011 Massacres in Southern Kaduna.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com
…How post-election fury became a human catastrophe and why JUSTICE is still owed.
April 2011 was supposed to be a triumph for Nigerian democracy. After years of flawed polls, the country held elections that international observers called markedly improved. Instead, the weeks that followed left a stain that has not been washed away, a convulsion of communal and sectarian violence in northern Nigeria that spread into the middle-belt and devastated communities in southern Kaduna, where entire neighborhoods were RAZED, hundreds were BUTCHERED, and tens of thousands were DRIVEN from their homes. The images that emerged (burned churches and mosques, bodies hacked with machetes, children and the elderly fleeing with nothing) were not merely the BYPRODUCTS of chaotic rioting. They were the predictable outcome of decades of impunity, political manipulation of identity and a security apparatus that too often looked the other way.
What happened in Kaduna in mid-April 2011 was part of a larger outbreak of violence across at least a dozen northern states, triggered by the announcement of the presidential result on 17 April. Supporters of the main opposition candidate protested, demonstrations degenerated into riots and those riots quickly hardened into sectarian killings. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH documented that more than 800 people were killed in the three-day surge of violence across northern Nigeria and that relief agencies estimated more than 65,000 were displaced. In Kaduna State (already a flashpoint because its north–south religious and ethnic geography is sharply divided) the death toll and destruction were particularly brutal. Saharaweeklyng.com reported that in towns and villages in southern Kaduna (including Zonkwa, Matsirga and Kafanchan) hundreds died and whole neighborhoods resembled war zones.
These were not random acts of criminality. Sahara reports testimony collected by field researchers described coordinated mobs, targeted attacks on civilians perceived to belong to the “OTHER” religion or region and systematic arson. In many of the WORST-HITS southern Kaduna communities, Muslim civilians reported being rounded up and slaughtered; in Kaduna city, Christians accused mobs of hunting and killing Muslim motorists and churches and mosques burned alike. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH documented testimony of mobs pursuing students, hacking them to death and of security forces whose intervention (when it came) was often belated or implicated in abuses of its own. The brutality was intimate and personal: victims were hacked, burned, raped and left where they fell.
Numbers alone cannot fully convey the human tragedy, but they help defeat denial. Various datasets and investigations give overlapping pictures: Sahara’s survey of the violence tallied hundreds dead in Kaduna alone; the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), as compiled in 2011 summaries, recorded scores of violent incidents in Kaduna culminating in hundreds of fatalities. Local religious and community leaders produced differing tallies (a testimony to the chaos and the politicization of casualty counts) but all point in the same grim direction: Southern Kaduna was devastated.
WHY DID THIS HAPPEN? Scholarly analysis and policy reports converge on three drivers. First, electoral politics in Nigeria frequently mobilizes ethnic and religious identity, converting local grievances into mass violence when national stakes feel existential; the April vote exposed and inflamed those fissures. Second, there is a deeply entrenched culture of impunity: past commissions of inquiry, even when established, rarely led to prosecutions, which incentivized recurrence. Third, structural issues, such as land disputes, competition over grazing routes, demographic anxieties and weak or compromised policing, which provided fertile ground for violent escalation. Henrik Angerbrandt and other researchers who have studied the 2011 violence argue the national electoral contest interwove with local disputes so that national outcomes became a pretext for local bloodletting.
Human rights organizations and analysts did not mince words. “The April elections were heralded as among the fairest in Nigeria’s history, but they also were among the bloodiest,” said Corinne Dufka of Human Rights Watch — a damning verdict that cut across any celebratory narrative about electoral reform. Observers and NGOs called for transparent, impartial investigations and criminal prosecutions; they warned that without accountability, the cycle would repeat. The International Crisis Group and other policy bodies made similar calls, insisting that electoral integrity without JUSTICE would prove hollow.
So what followed the bloodletting in southern Kaduna? Commissions were set up and inquiries promised; dozens were arrested in some jurisdictions; but prosecutions were scant and convictions rarer still. The pattern of inquiries that soothe public anger but deliver little judicial closure was reinforced communal suspicions. Survivors and community leaders in southern Kaduna repeatedly charged that the state response was inadequate, sometimes slow, sometimes complicit. Years after 2011, the scars persisted: displaced communities, lost livelihoods, disrupted schooling and a festering sense of injustice.
Many in the region and beyond have since labeled the killings and the ensuing pattern of attacks against indigenous southern Kaduna communities as ETHNIC CLEANSING or even GENOCIDE. Such labels are legally and politically weighty; they should not be tossed about lightly. The historical record shows that mass, targeted attacks did occur and that patterns of displacement and land takeover followed. Whether those patterns meet the strict legal definition of GENOCIDE requires judicial processes and forensic investigations that Nigeria has so far not conducted to international standards. What is indisputable is that communities experienced sustained campaigns of lethal violence and that the state’s failure to secure JUSTICE created a vacuum exploited by perpetrators.
The lessons of April 2011 (and of the tragic aftermath in southern Kaduna) must be learned honestly. First, electoral reforms must be paired with robust, transparent mechanisms for accountability. Second, security sector reform is not optional: police and military must be trained, deployed and held accountable to protect civilians impartially. Third, reconciliation must be concrete: reparations, the safe return of displaced persons, restoration of livelihoods and COMMUNITY-LED TRUTH-TELLING initiatives are prerequisites for durable peace. Finally, international and domestic actors must support and monitor any investigations so that JUSTICE is more than a promise. These are not merely TECHNICAL PRESCRIPTIONS; they are MORAL IMPERATIVES.
To the families who lost fathers, mothers, children and neighbors in southern Kaduna, words of condolence without action are hollow. To the state and its institutions, the April 2011 carnage was a test — one they have yet to pass. Corinne Dufka’s admonition in 2011 still rings true: democratic gains from the elections must be preserved by bringing “those who orchestrated these horrific crimes” to JUSTICE. That demand should now be a national obsession. Nigeria’s stability, the dignity of its citizens and the credibility of its democracy depend on it.
George Omagbemi Sylvester is a journalist and commentator focused on human rights and governance in West Africa. This piece is published by saharaweeklyng.com
*How Primate Ayodele Accurately Foretold Coup In Guinea-Bissau Few Weeks Ago (VIDEO)
If there is anyone who still doubts Primate Elijah Ayodele after the unexpected coup that rocked Guinea-Bissau on Wednesday, it simply means such a person has personal issues, not just with the prophet but with God himself.
Military officers in Guinea-Bissau have taken control of the government, suspended the country’s electoral process and declared they will be in control “until further notice”.
On Monday, President Umaro Embaló, who is seeking re-election, and Fernando Dias, his main opponent, both declared victory in the country’s election even though the electoral commission had not released official results.
However, later on Wednesday, Embaló told Jeune Afrique that he was arrested at around 1 pm in his office at the presidential palace.
The coup leaders issued a communique, claiming the “High Military Command for the Restoration of National Security and Public Order” was reacting to a destabilisation plot “put in place by certain national politicians with the participation of [a] well-known drug baron,” according to the Africa Report.
This coup development happened as though Primate Ayodele wrote the script, which is just being followed by the perpetrators because he was too accurate with his prophetic warning regarding the development.
The prophet first mentioned it earlier this month in a warning to the president of the country, letting him know that the presidential election can trigger a military action if care isn’t taken. He specifically warned the president to ensure that he accepts the outcome of the election, even if he loses, because the country is in a military action.
These were his words:
“In Guinea-Bissau, there is going to be an election, but if there is a coalition and the president tries to rig the election, the country will turn to fire. There will be anarchy, and the impossible coup can be possible. To the president, if you lose this election, just leave. Don’t force yourself because you will fail”.
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSfueMmhJ/
Apart from this, which he said during a live service in his church, Primate Ayodel, on November 11, in a series of prophecies to some African nations, mentioned that in Guinea-Bissau, there will be a military action.
He specifically warned that the president will not be reckoned with and that the president must be ready to do anything to stabilise the country because there will be a crisis.
These were his words:
“Guinea-Bissau: The country isn’t yet settled, there is still a crisis in the nation because they are going to be fighting seriously. The president will not be reckoned with, and the military will carry out another action. The president must be ready to do anything to stabilise the country because I see a crisis in Guinea.”
https://theeagleonline.com.ng/primate-ayodele-releases-prophecies-on-african-countries-6/
These prophecies are exactly a direct representation of the coup situation in Guinea-Bissau, and it’s mysterious that a man whose church is domiciled in Nigeria could accurately reveal what would happen in a far-away country like that; certainly, it’s God speaking through his vessel.
However, this isn’t the first time Primate Ayodele would be sharing such a prophecy that would have a striking fulfilment as this; he is renowned for being the only prophet to have foretold the coups in Niger, Mali, Guinea, Burkina Faso, to mention but a few.
He was also the only prophet to foretell the crisis in Madagascar that saw the president exiting the nation, the surprising election outcome in Botswana, Seychelles, and some nations that have held elections this year.
Also, the crisis between the president of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Faye and the prime minister, Ousmane Sonko, which no one expected, was prophesied by Primate Ayodele immediately after the election, on which he also foretold the outcome.
Likewise, the death of Raila Odinga, the opposition leader in Kenya, was foretold by Primate Ayodele in his new year prophecies for 2025, released in December 2024.
There are several mysterious prophecies Primate Ayodele has shared, and the one on Guinea-Bissau has successfully added to the list.
THE ANATOMY OF REAL POWER: WHY STRATEGY (NOT SENTIMENT) BUILDS STABILITY.
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG.com
“Why the Mind of a Fox and the Heart of a Lion Remain the True Tools of Survival in a Ruthless World.”
Human history has never rewarded the emotional, the naïve or the careless. It has only ever rewarded those who combine intelligence with courage, discipline with foresight and self-respect with strategic thinking. Stability (whether personal, political, economic or societal) is not built on good intentions or feelings. It is built on strategy, structure and the ability to understand human nature without illusion.
The principle is ancient, but eternally relevant:
“A leader must think long-term, act with purpose, control his reactions, observe more than he speaks, judge people by actions not words and understand motives, not emotions.”
In a world engineered around power, competition and survival, these are not suggestions. They are prerequisites.
THE WORLD DOES NOT REWARD SENTIMENT; IT REWARDS STRATEGY.
History itself is the most brutal teacher of this truth. Empires did not rise because their rulers were emotional; they rose because those rulers embraced calculation, discipline and a deep understanding of human psychology.
Niccolò Machiavelli, in The Prince, warned leaders that relying on the goodwill of others is fatal:
“Men are ungrateful, fickle, liars and deceivers. He who builds on their promises builds on the wind.” This statement is not pessimism; it is realism. Leaders who understand this avoid unnecessary betrayal. Individuals who refuse to learn this are repeatedly destroyed by the very nature of people.
Modern psychology confirms Machiavelli’s insight. Research published in The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology shows that humans consistently act in self-interest when under pressure, regardless of emotional relationships. Loyalty collapses when incentives shift. Thus, to survive, one must think strategically, not sentimentally.
THE MIND OF A FOX: WHY INTUITION AND DETECTION ARE WEAPONS.
Every man needs the mind of a fox; the ability to detect danger, manipulation, false loyalty and the subtle motives behind people’s actions.
Albert Einstein once warned: “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who watch and do nothing.”
Awareness is a weapon.
Observation is a shield.
Perception is a form of intelligence.
To navigate society (politics, friendships, business, leadership) one must be able to observe the fine print of human behaviour. Studies from Harvard University’s Program on Negotiation reveal that people reveal their true intentions not by their speech, but by patterns in their behaviour, consistency and reactions under stress. Words are the poorest indicators of loyalty. Actions are the most accurate. This is why one must observe more than one speaks and judge people by actions not words.
THE HEART OF A LION: THE COURAGE TO TAKE DECISIVE ACTION.
Strategy without courage is paralysis.
Wisdom without boldness is useless.
Intelligence without action is illusion.
Greek philosopher Aristotle taught that courage is the foundation of all virtue: “You will never do anything in this world without courage.”
Courage is not recklessness; courage is clarity. It is the ability to take decisive action when the moment demands it. It is the power to confront danger, make difficult decisions and enforce boundaries. The lion does not fear confrontation.
The lion does not ask for permission to survive.
This is why every wise man must develop not only the mind of a fox but the heart of a lion; the ability to strike decisively, impose order, defend one’s integrity and protect one’s future.
THE UNTAUGHT LAW OF POWER: UNDERSTAND PEOPLE OR BE DESTROYED BY THEM.
Human nature does not change. Technology evolves, cultures shift, economies collapse and rise again, but human instincts remain the same:
SELF-INTEREST, FEAR, AMBITION, ENVY, LOYALTY, BETRAYAL.
The Roman philosopher Seneca warned:
“He who does not understand the nature of people will be destroyed by the nature of people.”
This truth alone explains why emotional people suffer most. They expect fairness in an unfair world. They expect loyalty from people who are naturally self-preserving. They expect truth in a world full of masks and incentives.
Leadership expert Daniel Goleman, in his landmark research on emotional intelligence, revealed that individuals who cannot regulate their emotions make poor decisions, are easily manipulated and lose authority. Emotional impulsiveness is not strength; it is weakness disguised as passion.
This is why the writer says:
“You do not survive this world by being emotional. You do not win by being naïve. You do not rise by hoping others will treat you fairly.”
Fairness is never granted; it is negotiated, protected and enforced.
THE RISE OF THE DISCIPLINED INDIVIDUAL.
To rise in this world, one must become:
Disciplined – because without SELF-CONTROL, external control becomes your master.
Strategic – because life is a game of moves not wishes.
Observant – because information is power.
Controlled – because the calmest mind wins the sharpest battles.
Decisive – because hesitation is the birthplace of failure.
Unapologetically self-respecting – because the world treats you exactly how you treat yourself.
These are not just virtues; they are survival tools.
They are psychological armour.
They are the traits found in the most successful leaders in history, from Nelson Mandela to Lee Kuan Yew.
Mandela famously said:
“One of the most difficult things is not to change society; but to change yourself.”
SELF-DISCIPLINE is the foundation of transformation.
SELF-RESPECT is the foundation of influence.
SELF-MASTERY is the foundation of power.
THE DANGER OF WEAKNESS IN A RUTHLESS WORLD.
Weakness is not forgiven in nature. Animals do not negotiate with PREDATORS. Economies do not reward LAZINESS. Politics does not honour INNOCENCE. And the world does not slow down for those who cannot KEEP-UP.
In his research on geopolitics, Professor Robert Greene, author of The 48 Laws of Power, emphasized:
“A reputation for POWER is POWER. A reputation for WEAKNESS is an invitation to DESTRUCTION.”
The world respects strength.
The world respects boundaries.
The world respects the individual who is capable of being dangerous but chooses discipline.
This is the paradox of true power: Be GOOD when you CAN, but never fear becoming DANGEROUS when you MUST.
It is the same truth expressed in Sun Tzu’s Art of War: “Appear weak when you are strong and strong when you are weak.”
POWER is PERCEPTION, PREPARATION and PRECISION.
THE BALANCE OF WISDOM AND STRENGTH.
The mature man does not rely solely on intellect.
The mature man does not rely solely on courage. He balances the two.
He possesses:
The mind of a fox – SHARP, ATTENTIVE, ANALYTICAL, STRATEGIC.
The heart of a lion – COURAGEOUS, FEARLESS, DECISIVE, STEADY.
This duality is the foundation of stable leadership.
It is the foundation of personal success.
It is the foundation of survival in a world that rewards strength and punishes foolishness.
A wise man is calm, but not passive.
Observant, but not timid.
Kind, but not naïve.
Peaceful, but capable of war.
The ULTIMATE LESSON: REAL LEADERSHIP REQUIRES EVOLUTION, NOT EMOTION.
Stability is not a product of luck.
Success is not a product of sentiment.
Power is not a product of good intentions.
They are all products of strategy, discipline, courage and accurate understanding of human nature.
If you do not shape your mind, the world will shape it for you.
If you do not set boundaries, people will violate them.
If you do not study human behaviour, you will be controlled by it.
The world is not kind.
But it is predictable; when you understand people.
And in a world like this, the wise man arms himself with the sharpest tools:
the mind of a fox, the heart of a lion and the unbreakable discipline of a strategist.
Avalanche of Miracles, Healing as Apostle Suleman Hosts ‘Amazing Grace 2025’ Crusade
It’s yet another prophetic and powerful time at the Omega Fire Ministries International led by famous God’s General, Apostle Johnson Suleman as the 2025 edition of ‘Amazing Grace’ crusade begins in earnest.
The prophetic conference which is being hosted at the ministry’s headquarters in Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria, we gathered, is witnessing God’s presence as usual, and a new dawn has begun for many as the heaven opens over the participants.
The crusade which runs from today, Wednesday, November 26 and ends on Sunday, November 30, 2025, will be a gathering place for healing and salvation, as it promises to be powerfully soaked with new commitments to Christ, profound healings, and mighty deliverance for countless precious souls. The 5-day power-packed crusade, we were told, will see a total attendance of several thousands of participants, including new converts with several souls committing to Christ.
Past crusades hosted by Apostle Suleman usually feature powerful testimonies of divine healing, financial blessings, and overcoming difficulties. Several supernatural events have been recorded at OFM crusades, similar to what the church in Acts had experienced.
Aside from Bible teachings, prayers and deliverance, attendees regularly share personal accounts of miracles, highlighting their transformative experiences. One distinctive attribute of Apostle Suleman, is how many manifestations of the Holy Spirit will occur as he delivers the Word during conferences.
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