A group under the aegis of the Arewa Youth Ambassadors (AYA) has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Musa Nura Aljan, a civilian widely commended across Northern Nigeria for assisting security agencies in the fight against banditry, kidnapping, and other armed criminal networks.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by Comrade Yahaya M. Abdullahi, the group expressed deep concern over Aljan’s continued incarceration and the 45-year prison sentence he is serving—an outcome that has sparked widespread shock among residents and community leaders.
According to AYA, Aljan spent several years working closely with security operatives, gathering intelligence, tracking criminal hideouts, and helping in the arrest of notorious suspects who terrorised communities across multiple northern states. His activities, often undertaken at significant personal risk, reportedly disrupted violent criminal networks and restored relative calm to some of the most affected rural regions.
The group recalled several documented cases highlighting Aljan’s contributions. In December 2019, he reportedly pursued bandits operating along the Kaduna–Abuja highway, arresting suspects and recovering more than 1,000 stolen cattle around the Rijana area. Operating under the Aljan Network, he entered the Rijana forest—known as a major criminal hideout—where he was said to have confronted well-known faces within communities bordering the highway.
Widely described as an exceptional crime-tracker, Aljan also recovered multiple weapons, including AK-47 and AK-49 rifles, double-barreled guns, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. According to a Daily Trust report, he once rejected a N2 million bribe offered by bandits seeking safe passage across the Kaduna bridge with stolen cattle.
He also publicly opposed government negotiations with bandits, arguing that such groups could not be trusted unless they surrendered their weapons and released all captives. In another report published by the Nigerian Tribune in December 2019, Aljan stated that he had rescued numerous victims and animals from kidnappers, consistently returning recovered livestock to their rightful owners.
His efforts even earned him praise from the National President of the Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria, Pastor Yohanna Buru, who once called for national recognition for Aljan and appealed to well-meaning individuals and organisations to support his work.
AYA Demands Justice
In its Monday statement, AYA argued that Aljan had become a symbol of resistance against banditry.
“Bandits feared the name ‘Aljan’ not because he compromised with them, but because he confronted them,” the group said, describing him as one of the North’s “bravest civilian contributors to the fight against insecurity.”
AYA said Aljan’s imprisonment raised “serious questions,” especially after reports surfaced that his legal troubles began shortly after he assisted in the arrest of suspected bandits in Bauchi State. Community leaders and individuals familiar with the matter reportedly told the group that Aljan handed over the suspects and their weapons to the appropriate authorities. However, the narrative allegedly changed soon afterward, leading to his arrest and eventual conviction.
“Rather than being commended for his bravery, the narrative surrounding the incident reportedly shifted,” AYA stated. “The same man who had spent years putting his life on the line was suddenly treated as a criminal. His prolonged detention has left many confused and deeply troubled.”
While refraining from accusing any individual or security institution, the group insisted that the circumstances surrounding his case require urgent scrutiny. They lamented that a man who risked his life to protect society is now “languishing behind bars” instead of being honoured.
“It is painful to see a man who saved lives and restored hope in communities now treated as a criminal,” the statement read. “Instead of being celebrated for these sacrifices, he has been silenced and forgotten.”
Demands and Warnings
AYA called for Aljan’s immediate and unconditional release pending an independent review of his case. The group also demanded a public inquiry into the events leading to his arrest, prosecution, and sentencing, as well as protections for whistleblowers and civilian collaborators who support security agencies in combating crime.
The group warned that Nigeria risks discouraging patriotic citizens if those who assist in the fight against insecurity end up punished or abandoned.
“The North cannot remain silent when one of its bravest sons now suffers under questionable conditions. Positions of authority are temporary, but justice, fairness, and accountability are eternal,” the statement added.
AYA reaffirmed its commitment to peace, justice, and the protection of citizens, contributing to national security efforts.
Although Aljan’s 45-year sentence does not directly relate to his cattle-rescue operations, the controversy surrounding his case has fueled public concern over whether civilian partners in security operations are sufficiently protected.
