ISWAP, Boko Haram Collaborating With Criminal Herdsmen To Terrorise Kaduna- SOKAPU
BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), on Monday disclosed that, considering the reign of terror being unleashed on Kaduna state, it is obvious that the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), Boko Haram and terrorist herdsmen are in alliance to unleash terror on peace-loving citizens of the state.
Reacting to the deteriorating state of insecurity in Kaduna State, SOKAPU noted that, “Having observed resurging recurrence of violence ripping across the state, with the heartless manner that victims are murdered, especially the southern part, SOKAPU is constrained to draw conclusion that Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), Boko Haram, in collaboration with Fulani herdsmen militia, have now found a safe haven in Kaduna state to perpetrate their murderous activities as witnessed in the recent killings.
“The inhuman and callousness of the crimes, all have the tale tell signs of ISWAP and Boko Haram now operating in a fertile crime ground of armed herdsmen.”
The Union specifically said that incessant criminal acts of the murderers has cast frightening uncertainties on the protection of lives and properties in the state, and lamented that it is only in Nigeria would such dastardly acts of kidnappings and brutal killings not attract quick response from the authorities.
The position of the Union was contained in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of SOKAPU, Mr. Luka Binniyat, in which he called on the attention of Nigerians and the international community to the unprecedented deterioration of the security situation in Kaduna state.
SOKAPU noted that besides the killing of scores of persons, sacking of no fewer than 14 Gbagyi communities in Chikun Local Government Area and the kidnapping of over 58 persons, including a breast-feeding mother with her six-month old baby, there is the need to tell the world that since the abductions of the defenseless people, there has been a disturbing silence on the part of both government and security agencies over the fate of the abducted.
“It is therefore, very pathetic that in the past one month, several communities have been victims of horrendous calamity with no restrain. Not only have people been abducted and about N100 million ransom demanded by kidnappers from the Buruku communities of Chikun Local Government Area, SOKAPU has on a daily basis been inundated with distress calls and reports of kidnappings and murder of its members.
“More worrisome is the unacceptable situation where thousands of our people have become refugees in their fatherland and now living as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in several camps. Strangely, no form of any succor has been provided by government to cushion the sorry conditions,” SOKAPU said.
The statement further said that the arrest of a suspect in possession of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) at the premises of Living Faith Church, Sabo Tasha, Kaduna has created a tense situation in Kaduna, as the evil cruelty of past bombings of churches in Kaduna by Boko Haram terrorists is still fresh in the minds of relations of victims and their loves ones.
According to the Union, “It could be recalled that with the incessant kidnappings of people and other violent crimes on our communities, four students of ‘The Good Shepherd Major Catholic Seminary,’ Buwaya, Kaduna were kidnapped. After three weeks of dehumanizing experiences, three were released, but one of them, Brother Nnadi Michael, was grisly murdered last Saturday.
“In a similar fate, the wife of a philanthropist, and a medical Doctor, Mrs Ataga, whose husband had built a police post for the Unguwan Juji, community in Kaduna, was forcefully taken away with her three kids after a vigilante, Emmanuel Usman, was killed by the assailants. A ransom of N20 million was thereafter demanded.
“While her husband, relations and friends were running from pillar to post to raise the ransom, she was mercilessly murdered in the most barbaric manner. Her mutilated corpse was later dumped by the roadside. At the time of making this statement, her abductors are still demanding N20 million as ransom for the kids.”
