Again, Fulani Militia Attack Southern Kaduna Community, Burnt Two Persons And Village

Some of the pictures are gory and cannot be published here

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has announced the invasion and burning down of Manyi-Mashin village, in Zamandabo Ward, Atyap Chiefdom of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area (LGA) in Southern Kaduna by hordes of Fulani armed men.

The militia Fulani burnt down almost all the houses in the village as well as looting and carting away properties and valuables belonging to the people.

SOKAPU expressed concern that all the unprovoked and unwarranted attacks are taking place after a much publicized peace deal reached between the natives of Atyap Chiefdom on the one side and their long time settled Hausa and Fulani representatives on August 23, 2020 in Unguwan Wakili, close to Zangon Kataf town.

A statement by the National Public Relations Officer of SOKAPU, Mr Luka Binniyat stated that in the early hours of Friday, September 11, 2020, two persons were burnt beyond recognition in their houses.

According to Binniyat; “They are Cecilia Ishaya, 62, a widow and mother of six children and Iliya Sunday, 56, who left behind eight children”.

SOKAPU however said that even though men of Operation Safe Heaven promptly responded, the Fulani militia fled before the arrival of security agencies.

He also said that the attacks followed an ambush laid by Fulani militia on September 8, 2020 for three Atyap youths, who went to clear weed in their Sugar cane farm about a kilometer from their Atakmawei village also in Zamandabo Ward of Atyap Chiefdom.

According to SOKAPU; “Suddenly, armed herdsmen came from hiding and struck. They descended on them with daggers and machetes. Anthony Magaji, 25, a final year HND student with Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria, was hacked down. They axed his neck and head with macabre wounds and killed him instantly. Isaac Thomas, 24, also an OND student of the same School, managed to escape with life threatening injuries and is now under intensive care in a hospital, while the third escaped with injuries”.

SOKAPU also said that it has received complaints from farmers in Gora axis of Atyap Chiefdom, saying that Fulani men occasional sneak into their farms to destroy large swath of growing food crops, thus leaving them with a bleak prospect of hunger in the near future.

SOKAPU also said that on September 8, 2020, an attack was launched again by Fulani militias at Kitsarapang village in Kizachi Chiwo of Kizachi community, Tsam Chiefdom in Kauru LGA in the Southern part of Kaduna State during which the life of Emmanuel David Yohanna 13 years was snatched from him while the duo of Sunday Zango Stephen, 48 and Zakka John 23 were left grievously with gunshots and are presently receiving treatment at a Hospital in Jos.

The statement further said; “Meanwhile, three decomposing corpses were found on Kaduna-Abuja highway on Sunday, 6th September, 2020. They were among four persons that were abducted during a brazen operation last week at Maraban Rido, a suburb of Kaduna under Chikun LGA all in Southern Kaduna.

“They were killed after ransom was paid for their released. Among them is Pius Gargai, 20, and married with a child. He was a nephew of the 1st Vice President of SOKAPU, Mr. Dio Maisamari. The young man was buried last Wednesday in his native home Kufana, Kajuru LGA. The names of the other victims are yet to reach us.

“These bring to 8, the number of our members grisly killed by armed Fulani militia within five days in Southern Kaduna in an ongoing genocide against the natives of Southern Kaduna”.

SOKAPU therefore urged the Federal Government, through Operation Safe Heaven, under the Command of Major General Chukwu Emeka Okonkwo, to expatiate action and expel and bring to book all the Fulani militia that are currently occupying 101 Southern Kaduna communities in four Local Government Areas.

It said; “We have furnished the world with the details and we are happy to note, that eight of the displaced communities in Zangan District in Kaura LGA are now returning home as a result of more presence of men of OPSH.

“We are appealing to our youths to shun all forms of provocation and conduct themselves in manners that will not make them fall short of the law, not compromising their rights for self-preservation under the law,” SOKAPU said.