By John Shiklam
The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), has faulted claims
by the Presidency and Senator Uba Sani that the recent killing of
27 people in some communities in Kajuru Local Government Area of
Kaduna State were reprisal and revenge attacks.
Addressing a news conference in Kaduna, President of SOKAPU,
Hon. Jonathan Asake said the union “is pained and shocked over the
reaction of the President and Senator Sani over the killings by
armed Fulani herdsmen.”
No fewer than 27 people were killed on Monday and Tuesday
following attacks on Gonar Rogo, Makyali, Bakin Kogi and Idanu
communities in Kajuru LGA.
The Presidency, while condemning the killings in a statement by
Garba Shehu, Presidential spokesman, had decried “the wave of
attacks and counter attacks on people among the Fulani and Adara
communities in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State,”
saying that “killing people in the name of revenge is not
acceptable.” Also in statement, Senator Sani who represents Kaduna
Central Senatorial Zone, which include Kajuru, had described the
killings as a conflict between the Adara and the Fulanis, stating
that it would “seem that in the Fulani and Adara communities, there
are conflict entrepreneurs who have been reaping from the conflicts
and worsening the misery of the people.”
However, Asake maintained that such statements, were deliberate
attempts to cover the truth.
He declared that “anyone describing the recent attacks as
reprisals and revenge is either a mischief maker or part of a grand
agenda of ethnic cleansing against our people which is currently
being pursued with more vigour and determination more than ever
before.
“We are therefore, very pained and shocked at the reaction of
the Presidency that asserted that these unprovoked attacks were
reprisals and revenge.
“We are extremely disappointed that Sen. Uba Sani, who is the
Senator representing Kaduna Central should describe these attacks
as revenge because he should know the truth,” he said.
“Could it be that the Presidency and Sen. Uba Sani know what we
don’t know?” Asake asked According to him, all the attacks,
invasions and killings were being documented by SOKAPU, with names
of the victims and the affected communities.
He said “on Monday May 11, 2020, Gonar Rogo was invaded by
Fulani herdsmen militia. The following day, the attackers extended
their murderous expedition to Bakin Kogi where residents had fled
the town.
“They burnt down the town and launched another assault on
another village, Idanu.
“In the early hours of Wednesday, the murderous gang of
terrorists moved to Makyali where several persons were killed.
“In Agwala Village, an old lady was mercilessly hacked to death.
In total, these attacks have so far claimed 27 lives within 48
hours, while the injured have been taken to various medical
facilities for attention.”
The SOKAPU President said further that a fortnight ago, there
were attacks in Efele, Ungwan Modi and Ungwan Rana villages all in
Kajuru leading to the displacement of hundreds of residents.
Asake also disclosed that about two weeks ago, Galiwyi community
in Chikun LGA of the state, was invaded “by herdsmen militia who
chased away the men and turned their wives and daughters into sex
slaves after occupying the community.”
“As we address you this afternoon, tension has spread to several
communities in Kajuru LGA, especially Idon and Doka, with
fear-stricken residents fleeing in droves for fear of impending
attacks.
“The atmosphere of death and destruction now holds sway in our
communities,” Asake said. “We insist that the recent invasions are
a continuation of a deliberate and entrenched agenda of subjugating
and occupying our ancestral lands.
“We wish to alert the world that Southern Kaduna communities
have been under constant invasions and massacres that is fast
assuming a genocidal proportion,” he said.
He lamented that “despite the current lockdown caused by
COVID-19 pandemic, our communities are being invaded on a daily
basis and chased out into other communities as internally displaced
persons (IDPs) only for a short period before the host communities
are also invaded and further displaced.”
According to him, the incessant invasions had unleashed untold
hardship on survivors who can no longer go to their farms, with
their children perpetually out of school even before the
lockdown.
He said “the rate at which invasions were taking place across
Southern Kaduna communities and the attendant displacement has
assumed a dimension that would culminate into the wiping out of
communities if there is no intervention.”
He called on the state government to take responsibility and
provide leadership without bias.
He also urged that communities should be empowered to secure our
communities, in collaboration with relevant security agencies.
“Those communities that have been sacked, government should, as
a matter of urgency and necessity, cater for the welfare of
internally displaced persons, resettle them and provide them with
security.
“We call on men and women of good conscience, non-governmental
organisations, civil society groups, faith-based organisations and
the international community to come to our rescue by beaming their
searchlight on the ethnic cleansing taking place in Southern
Kaduna,” Asake said.
(Thisdaylive)
By John Shiklam
The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), has faulted claims
by the Presidency and Senator Uba Sani that the recent killing of
27 people in some communities in Kajuru Local Government Area of
Kaduna State were reprisal and revenge attacks.
Addressing a news conference in Kaduna, President of SOKAPU,
Hon. Jonathan Asake said the union “is pained and shocked over the
reaction of the President and Senator Sani over the killings by
armed Fulani herdsmen.”
No fewer than 27 people were killed on Monday and Tuesday
following attacks on Gonar Rogo, Makyali, Bakin Kogi and Idanu
communities in Kajuru LGA.
The Presidency, while condemning the killings in a statement by
Garba Shehu, Presidential spokesman, had decried “the wave of
attacks and counter attacks on people among the Fulani and Adara
communities in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State,”
saying that “killing people in the name of revenge is not
acceptable.” Also in statement, Senator Sani who represents Kaduna
Central Senatorial Zone, which include Kajuru, had described the
killings as a conflict between the Adara and the Fulanis, stating
that it would “seem that in the Fulani and Adara communities, there
are conflict entrepreneurs who have been reaping from the conflicts
and worsening the misery of the people.”
However, Asake maintained that such statements, were deliberate
attempts to cover the truth.
He declared that “anyone describing the recent attacks as
reprisals and revenge is either a mischief maker or part of a grand
agenda of ethnic cleansing against our people which is currently
being pursued with more vigour and determination more than ever
before.
“We are therefore, very pained and shocked at the reaction of
the Presidency that asserted that these unprovoked attacks were
reprisals and revenge.
“We are extremely disappointed that Sen. Uba Sani, who is the
Senator representing Kaduna Central should describe these attacks
as revenge because he should know the truth,” he said.
“Could it be that the Presidency and Sen. Uba Sani know what we
don’t know?” Asake asked According to him, all the attacks,
invasions and killings were being documented by SOKAPU, with names
of the victims and the affected communities.
He said “on Monday May 11, 2020, Gonar Rogo was invaded by
Fulani herdsmen militia. The following day, the attackers extended
their murderous expedition to Bakin Kogi where residents had fled
the town.
“They burnt down the town and launched another assault on
another village, Idanu.
“In the early hours of Wednesday, the murderous gang of
terrorists moved to Makyali where several persons were killed.
“In Agwala Village, an old lady was mercilessly hacked to death.
In total, these attacks have so far claimed 27 lives within 48
hours, while the injured have been taken to various medical
facilities for attention.”
The SOKAPU President said further that a fortnight ago, there
were attacks in Efele, Ungwan Modi and Ungwan Rana villages all in
Kajuru leading to the displacement of hundreds of residents.
Asake also disclosed that about two weeks ago, Galiwyi community
in Chikun LGA of the state, was invaded “by herdsmen militia who
chased away the men and turned their wives and daughters into sex
slaves after occupying the community.”
“As we address you this afternoon, tension has spread to several
communities in Kajuru LGA, especially Idon and Doka, with
fear-stricken residents fleeing in droves for fear of impending
attacks.
“The atmosphere of death and destruction now holds sway in our
communities,” Asake said. “We insist that the recent invasions are
a continuation of a deliberate and entrenched agenda of subjugating
and occupying our ancestral lands.
“We wish to alert the world that Southern Kaduna communities
have been under constant invasions and massacres that is fast
assuming a genocidal proportion,” he said.
He lamented that “despite the current lockdown caused by
COVID-19 pandemic, our communities are being invaded on a daily
basis and chased out into other communities as internally displaced
persons (IDPs) only for a short period before the host communities
are also invaded and further displaced.”
According to him, the incessant invasions had unleashed untold
hardship on survivors who can no longer go to their farms, with
their children perpetually out of school even before the
lockdown.
He said “the rate at which invasions were taking place across
Southern Kaduna communities and the attendant displacement has
assumed a dimension that would culminate into the wiping out of
communities if there is no intervention.”
He called on the state government to take responsibility and
provide leadership without bias.
He also urged that communities should be empowered to secure our
communities, in collaboration with relevant security agencies.
“Those communities that have been sacked, government should, as
a matter of urgency and necessity, cater for the welfare of
internally displaced persons, resettle them and provide them with
security.
“We call on men and women of good conscience, non-governmental
organisations, civil society groups, faith-based organisations and
the international community to come to our rescue by beaming their
searchlight on the ethnic cleansing taking place in Southern
Kaduna,” Asake said.
(Thisdaylive)