Incessant Killings: SOKAPU Plans Community Vigilante To Tackle Further Attacks

BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – Following incessant attacks and killings that have become unabated in Southern Kaduna in recent years, the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), has declared that the initiative of Amotekun by the South Western States is the best antidote to ever happen in tackling the security challenges that has plagued the nation.

National President of SOKAPU, Hon. Jonathan Asake, who stated this said that the people of Southern Kaduna known as a peace loving people, who do want anything to happen to them and their desire to leave in peace with all and sundry, are now forced to look elsewhere for the protection of the people.

Accordingly, SOKAPU said that it strongly believe that a security outfit such as Amotekun is an answer to the much desired peace in Southern Kaduna, adding that having studied the concept of the Western Nigeria Security Network, known as Operation Amotekun, it has resolved to develop community vigilante system to protect residents from suspected Fulani bandits.

Asake announced that no fewer than 35 persons were killed and 10 communities sacked while about 115 persons were abducted during serial attacks by the bandits which commenced on January 6, 2020.

He further said that while some of the survivors and victims were forced into Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, 58 of them were kidnapped.

The SOKAPU President also said that 40 other persons were abducted in Rumana Gbagyi, 15 in Rumana Hausa while a pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All Nations, was kidnapped along with five of his members.

According to Asake; “As l am talking to you, several communities in Chikun Local Government Area have been sacked into IDP camps. For instance, the communities that have been sacked just this January in Chikun LGA alone include Badna, Zankoro, Hayin Damisa, Unguwan Badole, Badimi, Kuderi and Unguwan Doma, while in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, we have Rumana Gbagyi, Rumana Hausa and Malomo.

“These are all native Gbagyi communities and are essentially Christian villages. At least 35 persons have been killed in a siege that started on January 6. In just three days, all these communities were sacked and 58 persons were kidnapped in one fell swoop.

“Forty were abducted in Rumana Gbagyi and 15 Rumana Hausa, not to mention the ECWA pastor that was kidnapped along with five of his members, and up till today, nothing has been heard of them and nobody is saying anything. These victims are left in the hands of their abductors to carry their cross,” he said.