Zangon-Kataf, in southern Kaduna State, is home to the Atyap (Kataf) indigenous community and a substantial Hausa trader population. During colonial rule and after independence, Hausa traders benefited from land allocations, political influence via emirate systems, and control of central markets, often leading to resentment among the Atyap. By 1992, these tensions had become profound, especially over issues of land ownership, settler versus indigene status, and economic access.
In 1989, the Local Government Council Chairman of Zangon-Kataf proposed relocating the weekly market from its central location in Zango town (dominated by Hausa traders) to a more “neutral” site on the outskirts, partly to relieve congestion and partly due to claims the original market occupied land formerly belonging to Atyap or under traditional ownership.
The Hausa community resisted the relocation. They argued that it would undermine their trading networks, reduce profits, and infringe on their established rights. They obtained a court injunction to restrain the move.
Key Events / People
February 1992: First Outbreak
On 6 February 1992, when the relocated market was to begin operations, violence erupted between Hausa and Atyap groups. Official figures report about 95 people were killed, 252 injured; 133 houses and 26 farmlands were destroyed. Most of the dead were Hausa.
May 1992: Escalation
On 15–16 May 1992, disputes escalated. According to the Cudjoe Commission and other sources, some Hausa were alleged to have uprooted Atyap crops; Atyap responded. Violence spread beyond Zangon-Kataf to Kaduna city, Zaria, Ikara and surrounding areas. Official death tolls from May indicate 471 people killed, 518 injured, plus destruction of houses and vehicles. Of these, around 188 deaths were within Zangon-Kataf, 250 in Kaduna city, with others in Zaria and Ikara.
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Key Figures
- Major General Zamani Lekwot (retired): A notable Atyap leader, arrested after the crisis, tried by a tribunal, initially convicted on charges including unlawful assembly and rioting. He later claimed he was framed, denied involvement, and challenged the fairness of the trial.
- Justice Rahila Cudjoe Commission of Inquiry: Appointed by Kaduna State government, this commission investigated the February and May incidents, collected witness testimonies, and issued recommendations. Its reports were not widely published at the time.
Economic and Social Changes
Economic Impacts
The relocation dispute impinged on Hausa traders’ livelihoods. Loss of central market positions meant loss of visibility, customer base, and income. Atyap traders gained some economic leverage in the new market site, although many Hausa continued to resist change. Many properties; houses, market stalls, farmlands, were destroyed. The crisis uprooted commercial activities and displaced traders. (Suberu; E.C.O.I.; FUDMA Journal of Sciences)
Social and Identity Effects
The crisis deepened ethnic identity divisions. Hausa communities saw themselves as settlers under threat; the Atyap, as indigenes with historic claims to land. Religious identities (many Atyap being Christian; many Hausa Muslim) layered added tension. Communal trust declined; many Hausa reportedly fled Zangon-Kataf.
Residential segregation increased, and intercommunal relations in Kaduna city and nearby areas became more fraught. Reconciliation efforts were intermittent.
Colonial Influence
Colonial rule introduced and entrenched structures that favoured Hausa-Fulani influence: emirate systems, land allocations, indirect rule mechanisms. The English colonial administration recognised the Zaria Emirate, under whose jurisdiction Zangon-Kataf fell, giving Emir authority over land and administrative matters. Hausa settlements obtained land and privileges under colonial and early post-colonial regimes often without equivalent compensation to indigenous occupants.
These colonial precedents set up power imbalances. The administrative and legal definitions of “native” vs “settler” status were inherited into post-independence Nigeria, contributing to grievances.
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Legacy Today
Justice, Reports, and Government Action
Decades after 1992, the Justice Cudjoe Commission report remains unpublished in full, and many recommendations remain unimplemented. In 1995, a Reconciliation Committee chaired by AVM Usman Muazu made further recommendations. In 2020, Kaduna State government established a White Paper Committee to review those reports and propose implementation. (Daily Post; TheCable)
Community Relations and Ongoing Tensions
The historical injustices around land ownership and market control continue to fuel disputes. Both communities continue to recall the deaths, damage, and displacement from 1992. Trust in state institutions remains low among affected persons. Recurrent conflicts over farmlands in Zangon-Kataf and surrounding LGAs often reference the 1992 crisis. (Kaduna state official statements; local news)
Symbolic Significance
The Lekwot trial and death sentence (later commuted) remain a potent symbol for many Atyap of what they view as judicial injustice. The crisis exposed how market location controversies, when coupled with ethnic identity and colonial legacies, can spark widespread conflict. For Nigeria, it illustrates the importance of fair land policy, inclusive governance, and transparent judicial processes.
Conclusion
The 1992 Zangon-Kataf Crisis was not merely a market relocation dispute. It revealed long-standing ethnic, economic, and political inequities rooted in colonial foundations and reinforced through post-colonial governance. Officially, hundreds died, thousands displaced, property destroyed. Key figures were tried under controversial tribunals; recommendations for justice and reconciliation have lingered but not been fully realised. Understanding this crisis helps in grasping the broader challenges of ethno-religious relations, indigene/settler tension, and land rights in Nigeria.
Author’s Note
This article draws solely on credible studies, inquiry reports, government records, and media interviews. It aims to clarify what is verifiable about the 1992 Zangon-Kataf Crisis its causes, events, and aftermath, and to correct exaggerations. The crisis remains significant because it shaped inter-ethnic relations in Kaduna, exposed gaps in institutional justice, and provided lessons about how unresolved grievances can fuel recurring communal violence.
References
- Suberu, Rotimi T. Ethnic Minority Conflicts and Governance in Nigeria. Ibadan: Spectrum Books, 1996.
– A detailed political and historical analysis of ethnic minority tensions and the 1992 Zangon-Kataf crisis. - Federal Government of Nigeria. Report of the Justice Rahila Cudjoe Commission of Inquiry into the Zangon-Kataf Riots of 1992. Kaduna State Government, 1992 (unpublished summary excerpts cited in later reports).
– Official inquiry report on the February and May 1992 disturbances. - Mahmood, Omolara. “The Zangon-Kataf Crisis and the Ethno-Religious Conflicts in Northern Nigeria.” Centre for Democracy and Development Working Papers, Abuja, 2001.
– Scholarly interpretation of the crisis, focusing on its ethnic and economic dimensions and aftermath.
