What began as a quiet procession quickly evolved into a moving portrait of collective grief, hope, and civic responsibility…
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The long, busy Kachia road in Kaduna on Saturday was filled with songs, prayers, and determined footsteps as members of the Initiative for Better and Brighter Nigeria (IBBN) staged a two-kilometre peaceful rally, calling for an end to killings across the country.
What began as a quiet procession quickly evolved into a moving portrait of collective grief, hope, and civic responsibility, an expression of Nigerians yearning for a nation where justice, peace, and unity are not mere slogans but lived realities.
The procession, which began at 10am from the Total Filling Station in Sabon Tasha, drew not only members of IBBN, but also various concerned Nigerians – men, women, youths, the elderly, and community advocates.
Participants were armed with banners bearing messages such as “No Peace for the Wicked,” “We Stand Against Violence, We Stand for Peace,” “Justice for Every Community, Peace for Everyone,” and “Praying for Peace, Speaking for the Voiceless.”
The rally was heavy with meaning. Many participants described it as a public cry from a nation weary of violence yet unwilling to surrender hope. Bus drivers, okada riders, market women, and passengers joined in dancing to the rhythm of drums and trumpets as the procession passed through markets and bus stops.
The National Chairman of IBBN, Prophet Isa El-Buba, was represented by Amb. Dr Polycarp Gankon, the Deputy Director-General of the organisation. Gankon’s message echoed like a plea and a declaration.
“Our cry, our advocacy, our complaints have been taken to God Almighty,” he said. “All we are after is the peace and unity of Nigeria. What we are advocating is the stoppage of killings in Nigeria. Enough of the bloodshed.”
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“The procession, which began at 10am from the Total Filling Station in Sabon Tasha, drew not only members of IBBN, but also various concerned Nigerians.”
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He added that those plotting evil or violence during the festive season would fail, assuring Christians of a peaceful Christmas celebration. Gankon also reaffirmed the organisation’s support for the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, describing him as a leader committed to peace and national cohesion.
In his remarks, Christopher Pankyes, the Kaduna State Coordinator of IBBN, expressed gratitude to the participants for lending their voices to the call for a safer Nigeria.
He specifically appreciated Prophet El-Buba for “giving Nigerians a platform to speak for peace,” noting that IBBN in Kaduna would continue to confront “wickedness in society” by urging citizens to stand firm against violence and those he described as “agents of darkness.”
The rally concluded with an intense prayer session at the foot of the overhead bridge near the Xmas Garden that houses the intersection between Television and Ungwan Sunday. It was led by the Secretary of the Kaduna State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Emmanuel Bamidele.
He prayed for the “healing of the nation, peaceful coexistence among diverse groups, justice, equity, security, and progress.”
Prayers were also offered for political, religious, and traditional leaders across Nigeria, asking God to grant them the wisdom needed to steer the country with fairness and integrity.
The rally lasted for two hours, but its message reached far beyond the streets it covered. In a period marked by tensions and rising anxieties, the procession served as a reminder that ordinary citizens still believe in the possibility of a united and peaceful Nigeria, and are willing to stand, march, and pray for it.
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