Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Kaduna State Police Command has detained 12 political leaders and supporters following violence that disrupted a Peoples Democratic Party campaign rally in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area, with eight members of the African Democratic Congress and four members of the PDP reportedly among those taken into custody.
The development has heightened political tensions in Kaduna as parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, while questions have been raised over the circumstances surrounding the detention of opposition figures and the reported release of an All Progressives Congress chieftain who was accused by an opposition supporter of inciting violence.
The arrests were reported on October 6, 2026, a day after the disruption of the PDP campaign activity in Kafanchan. According to a report by SaharaReporters, the detained individuals were taken from the Kafanchan Area Command to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Kaduna, where they remained in custody.
The eight ADC members identified in the report are Anas Usman Amfani, Abubakar Sadiq, Abdulmalik Muhammad, Ibrahim Tanimu Amfani, Hamza Kure, Bala Nuhu, Sauban Jibril and Ya’u Zakariya, who is the ADC chairman in Jema’a Local Government Area.
The four PDP figures were identified as the party’s Jema’a chairman, Hassan Yaro, alongside Babangida Talle, Aliyu Saeed and Dini Muhammad.
The circumstances surrounding each individual’s arrest, including the specific allegations against them and whether formal charges had been filed, were not immediately made public.
SaharaReporters said the arrests followed political violence in Kafanchan after opposition parties held campaign activities in the area. An ADC campaign team led by the party’s candidate, Hon. Adam Isah Tanko, reportedly held its campaign earlier on Monday without incident.
The situation reportedly changed later in the day when the PDP campaign team arrived in the area. According to accounts cited by SaharaReporters, suspected political thugs disrupted the PDP rally, while police and soldiers arrived and used tear gas to disperse people at the scene.
The account could not independently establish the identities or political affiliations of those responsible for the alleged attack.
The Kaduna State governorship candidate of the PDP, Usman Shehu Bawa, popularly known as Shehu ABG, condemned the incident and called for security agencies to remain neutral in political matters.
In a statement issued through his spokesperson, Yusuf Idris, Bawa described the attack as dangerous to democratic participation and urged the government to ensure that opposition parties could campaign freely and present their programmes to voters.
He also appealed to PDP supporters to remain calm despite the incident. Radio Nigeria Kaduna reported the statement on October 6, 2026.
The controversy surrounding the arrests intensified after the reported release of Isyaka Abdullahi Ladan, an APC chieftain who was alleged by an ADC supporter to have directed party youths to prevent opposition parties from campaigning in the area.
According to the account cited by SaharaReporters, Ladan was initially arrested by the Kafanchan Area Command and taken along with other political figures to the State CID. He was subsequently released, while the opposition figures remained in detention.
The allegation that Ladan incited the violence has not been independently established. SaharaReporters said the Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansir Hassan, was contacted for a response but had not responded as of the time the report was filed.
The Kaduna State Government, however, confirmed that the police had made arrests but rejected any suggestion that the action was ordered by the state government.
Kaduna State Commissioner for Information Ahmed Maiyaki said the arrests were made by the police as part of efforts to prevent further disorder in Kafanchan. He said individuals from different political parties were among those arrested and urged the public to allow the police investigation to run its course rather than pre-empt its findings.
The competing accounts have added to concerns over political tensions in Kaduna, where opposition parties and the ruling APC have already clashed over the conduct of political activities ahead of 2027.
The latest incident follows an earlier confrontation in Kaduna in September involving ADC supporters and security operatives during a solidarity walk for the party’s governorship candidate, Isa Ashiru.
At the time, the ADC accused security operatives and alleged political thugs of disrupting the gathering and said tear gas had been used against its supporters. The police offered a different account, saying officers intervened after a crowd carrying ADC banners allegedly attempted to gain access to Murtala Square without the required authorisation and later blocked a major road, causing traffic congestion and a breakdown of public order.
The police said the use of tear gas was necessary to restore normalcy and described the force used as minimal and proportionate. The command also said it respected citizens’ constitutional rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly while insisting that those rights must be exercised within the law.
The September confrontation was one of several developments that have underscored the increasingly competitive political atmosphere in Kaduna. Governor Uba Sani of the APC is seeking another term, while Ashiru, who previously contested the governorship under the PDP, is now the ADC candidate.
The ADC has also gained prominence in the state following the political realignment involving former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai, who left the APC and joined the opposition party. Premium Times reported in September that Ashiru won the ADC governorship primary with 86,113 votes.
The Kafanchan incident has consequently drawn attention beyond the immediate arrests, with political actors warning that violence or intimidation could affect the ability of parties to campaign across the state.
Bawa has urged security agencies to handle political disputes impartially, while opposition supporters have expressed concern that the detention of party officials could restrict campaign activities.
At the same time, the police have not publicly confirmed that the 12 detained persons were arrested because of their membership of the ADC or PDP. The available official position is that arrests were made in response to the situation in Kafanchan and that investigations are ongoing.
The identities of those responsible for the disruption of the PDP rally, the precise offences being investigated and the legal status of the detained individuals therefore remain unclear.
The reported release of Ladan is also yet to receive a detailed public explanation from the police. Until the command provides further information or charges are filed in court, allegations concerning selective treatment or political motivation remain claims rather than established facts.
The incident nevertheless adds to the growing political security concerns surrounding Kaduna as parties begin more visible mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections. The immediate focus is now on the police investigation, the status of the 12 detainees and whether authorities will provide a clear account of what triggered the violence and how responsibility will be determined.
For political parties and security agencies, the episode presents another test of how campaign activities can be conducted without violence and whether disputes arising from political competition can be addressed through transparent investigations and the rule of law.
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