The tide of terror in Kaduna is turning. That was the message Governor Uba Sani delivered to President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, citing the miraculous rescue of Kurmin Wali worshippers as proof of a new dawn.

This high-level briefing is more than a status report; it is a validation of the "non-kinetic" and collaborative security strategy. Sani’s success in stabilizing one of Nigeria’s most volatile states offers a blueprint for national recovery, pivoting from crisis management to infrastructure development. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-23)The meeting, held on Friday, focused on the strategic gains made in securing the state, a prerequisite for the economic revival Sani has promised.

The Rescue Dividend

Governor Sani briefed the President on the safe return of worshippers abducted from churches in the Kurmin Wali community, Kajuru Local Government Area, on January 18, 2026. Their release without ransom—a result of painstaking intelligence operations and synergy between state and federal forces—marks a significant departure from the past. "This operation underscores the professionalism of our security architecture when guided by clear objectives," Sani told the President.

The Governor credited President Tinubu’s personal involvement, revealing that the President made "ceaseless personal calls" during the two-week ordeal. This hands-on approach from the Commander-in-Chief provided the political will necessary to drive the security agencies to deliver results. It signals a new era of federal-state cooperation where security is treated as a shared, daily priority rather than a periodic crisis.

Beyond Guns and Bullets

With security stabilizing, the conversation shifted to the dividends of peace: infrastructure.Sani presented his priorities for "inclusive infrastructure," specifically the long-awaited Birnin Gwari road project. This road is not just asphalt; it is an economic artery that has been severed by banditry for years. Its reconstruction would symbolize the state’s return to normalcy.

• Holistic Strategy: Sani’s administration is combining boots on the ground with development projects to address the root causes of insecurity: poverty and isolation.
• Presidential Backing: The meeting confirms Tinubu’s confidence in Sani’s leadership, positioning Kaduna as a model for the President’s "Renewed Hope" agenda in the North.
• The Road Ahead: The Governor reaffirmed his commitment to working with the Federal Government to ensure that the gains in security are irreversible, paving the way for investors to return to Kaduna.

As Governor Sani left the Villa, the message to the bandits was clear: the state is back in charge. And for the people of Kaduna, the briefing offers a glimmer of hope that their state is finally rising from the ashes of conflict, ready to rebuild.