National
Captain Saleh Usman Burial Bickering: Christie Yori Drags Sabon Sarki Traditional Council to Court
High Court 10 in Barnawa, Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State presided by Justice Bashir Shitu Yusuf began hearing, Tuesday, 19th March, 2024 into the case filed by the Applicant, Christie Yori, challenging the decision of the traditional council in Sabon Sarki District, to bury an empty casket against the reposed body of late Captain Saleh Usman and also seeking the court to redirect the traditional council to bury the deceased whose corpse is still languishing in the mortuary.
Counsel to the Defendants, Barr. Jerry Joseph Dabo, said, the applicant filed an application asking the court to review the decision of the traditional title holders where the deceased, Late Captain Saleh Usman, hailed from to bury him.
So, she (Christie Yori) is challenging the decision of the traditional council for burying an empty casket. The body of the deceased is still in the mortuary and is yet to be buried and the Applicant is seeking the court to review the decision of the traditional council and redirect them to properly bury the corpse of the deceased that is still in the mortuary. The Applicant is saying there was no burial because the corpse is still in the mortuary.
He went further saying, We were served with the application very late, but were able to respond to the application within time. We didn’t go on today because the Applicant still has the opportunity to respond to what we have filed so that we can come proper before the court and fortunately enough the court graciously granted us the opportunity to go an put our houses in order for them to file their response, if need be, for us to also respond to what they have filed.
According to the District Head of Sabon Sarki and Mabudin Kachia, HRH, Mr. Jacob Jeff Dogo, tradition has taken its course and we have done what tradition told us to do and we have done it. No position is more than that. We don’t know any Christie Yori, we don’t know her. We don’t have anybody who bears the name Christie Yori in Sabon Sarki District. We have buried our brother(Saleh Usman) traditionally. We have no qualms with anybody. Certain traditional beliefs and rites cannot be publicised. We are Ham and we have our unique culture.
In a press statement issued by a group known as Gidan Jibir Patriotic Youths, which was signed by Mr. Illiyasu Usman, reads:
WE, the Youths of Gidan Jibir in the Sabon Sarki District of Kachia Local Government, are out here today to protest the abuse and desecration of our Ham (Jaba) customs and traditions. The perpetrators of this aborminable act ( Ms. Christie Dominic Yori, Mrs Ladi Edward Pati, Hajia Zainabu Usman and one Tori Yori Usman) have proven to be unscrupulous and unworthy daughters of Southern Kaduna.
For the records, Ms. Christie Dominic Yori who was a side chick of our late beloved uncle Capt. Saleh Usman was never married to him at any point in his lifetime as evident by the High Court ruling of 20/4/2010 delivered By Justice Zailani. The judgement was publicised by Daily Trust of Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 and Leadership Newspaper of Friday, May 7, 2010. The judgement prohibited her from ever using the Usmans name as she was never married to Capt. Saleh Usman. Same woman went ahead to fill INEC registration forms with same Usmans name, when she contested to be Vice Chiarman of Jema’a LGA under APC flag in 2021. This act was challenged again in the Magistrate Court in Barnawa and she was asked to remove the Usmans name from her Names and to provide an affidavit to that effect which she did, copies of which are attached here.
From the forgoing it can be clearly seen that Capt. usman though having allegedly had children with the said Christie Dominic Yori, never at any point married her nor allowed her to use his name nor ever allowed her into the family house.She was never married to Capt. Saleh Usman by either traditional nor legal means and as such has no right to intrude into to affairs of the Usmans.
When Capt. Saleh Usman fell sick, he was taken hostage to Jos by Christie Yori, thereafter all efforts by his beloved wife of over 33years Barr (Dr) Deborah Usman to fly him abroad for proper medical attention met stiff resistance from the antics of Ms. Christie Yori, Mrs. Ladi Edward Pati and Mr. Tori (now Yori ) Usman whom Cashed-in on the vulnerability of a sick and helpless Capt. Usman Saleh and continually prevented him from flying abroad for proper medical care .
Capt. Saleh Usman died on 10th September 2023. the duo of Ms Christie Yori and Yori Usman her son decided to hide the corpse from the Usman family. Mr. Yori Tori Usman (24years) an alleged son of Capt. Saleh Usman is his second son with Mr. Ahidjo Saleh Usman (40years) beign the first son. But Mr. Yori T Usman flagrantly refused to release the corpse of Capt. Saleh Usman in a conspiracy arrangement between him, his mother Ms Christie Yori and Hajiya Zainabu and Mrs Ladi Edward Pati. they thwarted all efforts at getting the corpse of Capt. Usman Saleh so as to be accorded the needed burial rites.
The Usmans family have till this day 19th March, 2024. Not been informed by Ms. Christie Yori about the death of our son, nor has she deemed it neccesary to tell them the whereabout of our son’s corpse. The family reserves the right to institute legal actions against her but in obediance to the cultural norms and traditions of the Ham people, the family have decided to let go, as the burial of Capt. Saleh Usman has been concluded according to Ham traditionally laid down rules.
The corpse was deposited at the Airforce Hospital Morgue in Jos. the family used all means and avenues of retrieving the corpse from them to no avail.pleas from the Military high command, Respected sons and daughters of Hamland and the traditional institutions of both Ham and Gwong (Kagoma) land (homeland of Christie Yori) pleaded for the release of the corpse all to no fruition which act is unprecedented disgraceful and shameful in the entire Southern Kaduna.
At this juncture the people of Gidan Jibir in accordance with the customs and traditions of the Ham people had no other option than to go ahead and perform the needed burial rites as enshrined by our customs and traditions. So Capt. Saleh Usman was buried according to our (Ham) tradition and that settled it. Three days later Mr. Yori T. Usman came to Gidan Jibir in the company of armed policemen and threatened to employ the services of thugs to forcefully bury the body of Capt. Usman Saleh in Gidan Jibir, this act is completely forbiden and a gross desecration of our traditional beliefs as no Son or daughter of the land can be given burial rites twice. The community youths and elders repelled that attempt and he Mr. YoriT Usman together with his co-conspirators (Ms. Christie Yori, Mrs Ladi Edward Pati and Hajia Zainabu) have brought the matter before the court, that is why we are here.
We wish to emphatically state thus:
– We will not allow anyone abuse our Ham (Jaba) customs and traditions. Ms. Christie Dominic Yori STOP using the name USMAN
– We also advice Mr. Yori Tori Usman to seek from his mother Ms. Christie Yori, His true PATERNITY, as he is not son of Gidan Jibir.
– Mrs. Ladi Edward Pati should STOP causing trouble in her Uncles house. she is not Usman and as such should stay clear of the Usmans family.
– That Hajia. Zainabu who is the Elder sister to Capt. Usman Saleh should STOP hiding in far away United States of America and SPONSORING acts capable of distorting the peace in Gidan Jibir community. we have it on tape how she wires monies aimed at executing this forbiden project of theirs.
All we seek is the protection of the rights of Gidan Jibir Community in particular and the respected and revered Ham (Jaba) people to practice their customs and traditions without fear or hinderance.
National
Talata Mafara Resident Praises Tinubu, Matawalle For Eliminating Bandit Leaders Jijji, Kachallah Sagili
Residents of Talata Mafara Local Government Area in Zamfara State have expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, Minister of State for Defence Dr Bello Matawalle, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa for their roles in the elimination of two notorious bandit leaders
The operation, which targeted Jajji Ɗan Auta and Kachallah Sagili, has been hailed as a significant step towards restoring peace in the troubled region.
Yakubu Ibrahim Mafara, speaking on behalf of the Talata Mafara community, issued a statement on Friday commending the concerted efforts of the Nigerian government and security forces.
“We are very grateful to Matawalle, Tinubu, NSA, and others,” he said, reflecting the community’s relief and optimism following the operation.
The statement underscored the profound impact of the operation on the local population, which has long endured the terror inflicted by bandit groups in Zamfara State.
The operation took place on Thursday in Maikwanugga, a community within Talata Mafara Local Government Area, where security forces, alongside local vigilante groups, conducted targeted patrols along the Mafara axis.
According to the statement, reports indicate that Jijji Ɗan Auta and Kachallah Sagili, both feared bandit leaders responsible for numerous attacks, kidnappings, and extortion in the region, were neutralised during the operation.
” Their deaths have been described as a turning point for the community, which has suffered years of violence and insecurity.
“The killing of Jijji Ɗan Auta has brought relief and fresh air into our community,” Yakubu said, echoing the sentiments of residents who have lived under the shadow of banditry for years.
The operation is seen as a direct response to the escalating violence in Zamfara, where armed groups have terrorised rural communities, disrupted livelihoods, and displaced thousands.
The community’s gratitude reflects growing confidence in the government’s commitment to tackling insecurity in Nigeria’s northwest.
Meanwhile, the operation was a collaborative effort involving the Nigerian military and local vigilantes, who have increasingly played a critical role in intelligence-gathering and community defence.
The patrols in the Mafara axis were part of a broader strategy to dismantle bandit strongholds and restore normalcy to Zamfara, a state that has become a hotspot for banditry and kidnapping in recent years.
“The elimination of Jijji Ɗan Auta and Kachallah Sagili is expected to weaken the operational capacity of bandit groups in the region.”
The Nigerian military has called for stronger collaboration with relevant agencies to ensure proper documentation of individuals entering the country, citing the role of foreign herders in escalating violence in regions like Plateau and Benue States.
Maj.-Gen. Markus Kangye, Director of Defence Media Operations, made the appeal during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
“There are agencies responsible for this, and we need to collaborate effectively,” Kangye said, emphasizing the importance of a joint framework to tackle insecurity.
“Those entering Nigeria must be properly documented and accounted for.”
He said recent attacks by armed herders in Plateau, Benue, and other parts of the country have left dozens dead and displaced thousands, particularly in farming communities.
Kangye revealed that investigations point to foreign herders as the primary perpetrators of these violent attacks, with their distinct speech patterns and physical features setting them apart from local herders.
“The Hausa language spoken in Nigeria differs significantly from that in Mali, the Central African Republic, or Ghana,” he explained.
“When we apprehend these herders and terrorists, their speech and appearance—sometimes even their hair—indicate they are not from Nigeria.”
He noted that the Shuwa Arabs in Borno are the only Nigerian community with some similarities to Sahel-region herders, but even they are distinguishable.
While acknowledging that some Nigerian herders contribute to conflicts by encroaching on farmlands, Kangye stressed that the majority of the violence is driven by foreigners crossing Nigeria’s porous borders.
“The ongoing killings reported in certain areas are primarily committed by individuals who have infiltrated our borders,” he said.
Catholic cardinals have elected Robert Prevost, the first Pope from the United States of America, who has taken the new name Pope Leo XIV after the conclave decided in just four rounds of voting on Thursday.
Italian Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi said it took cardinals only four rounds of voting to pick a new pope and that white smoke coming out of the Sistine Chapel chimney after a day’s voting is “a clear sign of the unity of the Church. ”
The Pontiff, picked even faster than his predecessor, Francis, appeared on the Vatican balcony amid enthusiastic cheers from thousands of faithful who packed St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday to witness the historic event.
“May peace be with all of you,” he said from the Vatican balcony after paying tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who gave his life to the service of humanity. He stressed that he wants to deliver his blessing to the people as Pope Francis did in his last appearance in St Peter’s Square.
After concluding his speech, the new Pope started reading a religious passage in Latin, paying homage to the saints and the Madonna. The pope continued with a message of peace and noted, “God loves us all, unconditionally”.
“Humanity needs Christ as a bridge to be reached by God and his love. Help us, and help each other, build bridges.
“Without fear, united hand in hand with God, we are the Disciples of Christ, and the world needs his light.
“Brothers and sisters dearest, this is the first greeting of Christ resurrected. I want to offer a greeting of peace to your families, all of you, wherever you are. May peace be with you,” he said.
Chicago-born Prevost, 69, is seen as a reformer who worked for many years as a missionary in Peru before being made an archbishop there.
The cardinals strongly perceived that the new pope would need to carry forward Pope Francis’s legacy of reaching out to those on the margins and bring along with him a wide spectrum of those within the Church, including those with whom Pope Francis was sometimes at loggerheads.
Observers considered Cardinal Robert Prevost a candidate who could fulfil that role—someone who could be a bridge between different worlds.
The fact that the conclave decided in just four rounds of voting suggests that the cardinals agreed with that assessment.
Robert Prevost will be the 267th occupant of the throne of St Peter. Although he is the first American to fill the role of Pope, he is considered as much a cardinal from Latin America because of the many years he spent as a missionary in Peru before becoming an archbishop there.
Born in Chicago in 1955 to parents of Ecuadorian and French descent, Prevost served as an altar boy and was ordained as a priest in 1982. Although he moved to Peru three years later, he returned regularly to the US to serve as a pastor and a priest in his home city.
He has Peruvian nationality and is fondly remembered as a figure who worked with marginalised communities and helped build bridges. He spent 10 years as a local parish pastor and teacher at a seminary in Trujillo in northwestern Peru.
He is well known to cardinals because of his high-profile role as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops in Latin America, which has the critical task of selecting and supervising bishops. Francis made him a cardinal less than two years ago.
As Francis appointed 80% of the cardinals who took part in the conclave, it is unsurprising that someone like Prevost was elected, even if he was only recently appointed.
He will be seen as a figure who favoured the continuity of Francis’ reforms in the Catholic Church. Prevost is believed to have shared Francis’ views on migrants, the poor and the environment.
He will be fully aware of the divisions within the Catholic Church, and his Latin American background also represents continuity after a Pope who came from Argentina.
During his time as archbishop in Peru, he did not escape the sexual abuse scandals that have clouded the Church. However, his diocese fervently denied he had been involved in any attempted cover-up.
Before the conclave, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that during gatherings of the College of Cardinals in the days before the conclave they emphasised the need for a pope with “a prophetic spirit capable of leading a Church that does not close in on itself but knows how to go out and bring light to a world marked by despair”.
Top 10 Things to Know About the New Pope, Robert Francis Prevost
1. First American Pope
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, is the first pope from the United States, born in Chicago, Illinois.
2. Elected as the 267th Pope
He was chosen after a swift two-day conclave, becoming the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
3. Age and New Namel
At 69 years old, he adopted the papal name Leo XIV upon his election.
4. Deep Missionary Experience in Latin America
Prevost spent over a decade in Peru as a bishop and seminary educator, gaining respect for his pastoral leadership and cultural fluency.
5. Leader of the Augustinian Order
He led the Augustinians globally for over ten years, managing an international religious community.
6. Key Vatican Roles
Before becoming pope, he was Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America—two influential positions in Church governance.
7. Academic and Legal Scholar
He holds degrees in mathematics, theology, and canon law, and has taught canon law in Latin America.
8. Calm, Reform-Oriented Leader
Known for his consensus-building style, Pope Leo XIV is seen as a clear-headed reformer continuing the legacy of Pope Francis.
9. Advocate for Women’s Inclusion
He supports meaningful female participation in Church governance, emphasising their real impact within Vatican bodies.
10. Mission-Driven Papacy
Pope Leo XIV remains committed to missionary work, global outreach, and addressing challenging issues like clerical abuse with humility and resolve.