The Citizen Joint Tactical Formation (CJTF-TF) Nigeria has clarified the recent leadership change in its Kaduna State Command, describing it as an orderly internal transition rather than a leadership dispute.

The clarification was contained in a directive issued by the organisation’s National High Command under the leadership of its Commander General and National Coordinator, Tanimu Shehu.

According to CJTF-TF, former Kaduna State Commander, Comrade Obadiya Dan Maiwo, voluntarily relinquished his position following an understanding reached among the principal officers.

The organisation said Dan Maiwo expressed confidence in the new leadership and agreed to give Comrade Aminu Abdulaziz Samunaka the opportunity to lead the command as Acting Kaduna State Commander.

CJTF-TF said the transition agreement was signed by the relevant officers and witnessed in accordance with directives from the National Headquarters.

It added that all parties were expected to maintain discipline, mutual respect and adherence to the organisation’s official channels.

However, the organisation said Samunaka’s appointment remains subject to the completion of comprehensive personnel profiling, verification and other administrative requirements.

The Kaduna Command will undergo a structured verification exercise involving the compilation and authentication of personnel records. The required documents include application forms, verified National Identification Number (NIN) details or other acceptable identification, passport photographs, personal information, proof of residence where required, and endorsement by the appropriate traditional authority.

CJTF-TF said the exercise is aimed at establishing reliable personnel records, strengthening accountability and preventing unauthorised individuals from operating under its name.

It added that similar profiling and verification exercises would progressively be carried out across its commands nationwide.

The organisation also reaffirmed that the production and issuance of official CJTF-TF identity cards remain centralised under the Office of the Commander General and National Coordinator.

It warned that state and local commanders are not authorised to independently produce or issue official identification cards.

CJTF-TF further stressed that its personnel do not possess statutory law-enforcement powers and prohibited activities such as unauthorised checkpoints, detention facilities, extortion, torture, independent raids and unauthorised armed operations.

According to the organisation, such activities could infringe on citizens’ rights and fall outside its stated community-security role.

CJTF-TF said its intended role focuses on community engagement, early-warning monitoring and information gathering, with actionable intelligence to be transmitted to appropriate statutory security agencies.

State commands were therefore directed to maintain proper liaison with relevant security institutions, including the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Department of State Services (DSS), before undertaking organised community-security activities.

The organisation said it does not seek to replace or compete with constitutionally established security institutions, but intends to operate within the framework of lawful community engagement and cooperation with statutory authorities.

CJTF-TF said the Acting Kaduna State Commander had been given an administrative window to establish the necessary structures and complete the stipulated requirements.

It warned that his continued leadership of the Kaduna Command would depend on compliance with the requirements and the outcome of the verification process.

Failure to meet the conditions, it said, could lead the National Headquarters to take further administrative action, including appointing another person to lead the command.

The organisation also disclosed plans to develop partnerships with healthcare providers and other stakeholders as part of a proposed community healthcare and personnel-welfare initiative.

It called for structured engagement with the Office of the National Security Adviser, Federal Ministry of Interior, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, NSCDC, DSS, state governments and state security councils to establish clear boundaries for future collaboration.

The National High Command maintained that the Kaduna development should be understood as an internal leadership transition, with the former commander voluntarily making way for the Acting Commander while the National Headquarters retains authority over the verification and eventual confirmation process.

CJTF-TF said its broader nationwide profiling exercise is intended to ensure that individuals operating under its name are properly documented, verified and accountable within its organisational structure.