•How cultural celebration exposes challenges in Kaduna community
• Bandits, waterborne diseases make life brutal for residents
From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
When the sons and daughters of Koro Community in Kargako Local Government area of Kaduna State gathered in their numbers to celebrate the maiden edition of the annual Koro Cultural Festival on May 17, 2025, it was a day of mixed feelings for them.
The maiden event took place at the premises of Government Secondary School, Kabacha town in the local government area. In attendance was a mammoth crowd, even as area teemed with assorted security personnel.
The people came with their friends and well wishers from far and near to witness the historic event, all bedecked in colourful traditional dresses.
On display were several cultural showpieces of the people, including masquerades, farming and hunting implements, which showed that the people are great farmers and hunters, occupations they inherited from their forefathers.
Gunshots from local guns devoid of bullets by the hunters at the occasion rent the air, causing some guests, especially women, to scream loudly out of fear.
“Hunting is part of our culture and that is why we are shooting our traditional dane guns without bullets in them, just for the sake of this event. But when we go for the real hunting in the bush, our dane guns are loaded with bullets for the killing of animals,” one of the hunters said.
Different traditional musicians sang alluring songs in dialects, with many people dancing to the admiration of guests. Happiness, joy and laughter dominated their faces.
But behind these happy faces lay the troubling challenges being faced by the community over the years.
In his welcome address at the occasion, the President, Koro Community Development Association (KCDA), Prof John Magaji did not mince words to inform the guests, including state government officials, about what he termed the “challenges facing the peace-loving people of Koro community.
“I am extremely grateful to Almighty God for making this day a reality. Indeed, it feels like a dream come true. The theme of this maiden festival, “Revitalizing Koro cultural heritage, bridging generations, and uniting communities” reflects the deep collective aspirations of the Koro people.
“It speaks to our long-held desire to deliberately revive our rich cultural and traditional values, build sustainable connections across generations, and foster unity in the pursuit of progress, development, and peaceful coexistence with our neighbours.
“Like every human endeavour, we acknowledge that this first attempt came with its own challenges and unintended outcomes, some of which have been brought to our attention, and we assure you that they will be addressed moving forward.
“Let me take a moment to reflect on the history and journey of our association. The Koro Community Development Association began as individual units at village levels. The idea of coming together as a collective started in Kaduna town, where all Koro indigenes residing in Kaduna began to meet as a group. It was this branch that took the crucial step of registering the association with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
“Nevertheless, today is a day of pride for every son and daughter of the Koro nation. This annual cultural day festival has come to stay, and we pledge to build upon the strong foundation that has now been laid.”
Lamenting on the challenges facing the various communities that make up Koro chiefdom, Prof. Magaji called on relevant authorities to ensure the freedom of over 50 of the people in the community who were kidnapped by bandits some months ago and are still in captivity at the time of this report.
The President of the Association also lamented lack of infrastructure in the community.
He disclosed that there is no good road in the community, adding that the only major road that leads to the neighbouring Plateau State is in a deplorable condition.
Magaji said: “Over 50 of our beloved parents, brothers, sisters, and children are currently in captivity due to the rising wave of kidnappings.
“Our local government area lacks basic road infrastructure; not a single community has a well-graded, let alone tarred, road.
“The only major road from Jere through Kwoi, Kafanchan and Manchok to Jos is in a deplorable condition. We appeal for its upgrade to a federal road.
“Our communities suffer from complete lack of electricity. The few electrification efforts have been vandalised.
“Despite hosting one of the largest dams supplying water to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), our people face chronic water scarcity and suffer from waterborne diseases.
“To our youths – boys and girls of the Koro nation, I urge you to be responsible, hardworking, and committed to your education. Shun all forms of illegal and destructive activities such as internet fraud; kidnapping, banditry, thuggery, cultism and any form of social violence. You are the future, and that future must be preserved and guided wisely.
“We humbly appeal to the government to consider upgrading the Koro Chiefdom to First Class Status, which is long overdue. We have secured a palace site, but there is still no physical structure. With just seven months to the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Koro Chiefdom, we earnestly seek support to build a befitting palace.
“We appeal to the governor to restore our district heads and correct the chiefdom’s name from ‘Kubacha Chiefdom’ to its rightful name—Koro Chiefdom.
“I warmly welcome all representatives from the various Community Development Associations in Southern Kaduna, including members of SOKAPU, as well as our Koro brothers and sisters from sister states—Abuja, Nasarawa, and Niger. Our cherished sister communities—the Gbagi, the Jarawa, and others—your presence brings us joy. We look forward to seeing you all again in January 2026, for the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Koro Chiefdom.”
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, for the commendable work they are doing across the nation and within our state. We pray that Almighty God grant them good health and the opportunity to continue and accomplish all the positive agenda they have set for the country and our dear state,” he said.
Kaduna State Deputy governor, Hadiza Balarabe, who was represented by the Commissioner for Sports, Ben Gugong advised the people to always live in peace and harmony in order to attract development to the area.
The Deputy governor also urged the people to report to the appropriate authorities any suspicious movement within the community to ensure security of lives and property in the area.
Chairman of Kagarko Local government area, Hon Muhuyideen Umar urged the Koro people to embrace a culture of unity and tolerance in order to achieve sustainable growth and development in their communities.
According to him, the importance of peace, unity and tolerance cannot be overemphasised, considering its pivotal role in driving progress and development across all spheres of life.
The chairman, who served as the chief host at this year’s Koro Cultural Day Festival said the annual ceremony was organised to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the Koro people.
The event also featured presentation of awards to the state governor, Uba Sani and his deputy, Hadiza Balarabe, sons and daughters of Koro community, as well as some local government chairmen. There were cultural displays and fundraising where over N30 million was donated the o Koro Community Development Association by friends, as well as sons and daughters of Koro Chiefdom.