Kidnappers Adduct Pastor’s Five Daughters, Others In Southern Kaduna – SOKAPU Cries Out
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has raised an alarm over the adduction of seven people, including five daughters of Pastor Istifanus Tiswan of Christ Embassy Church on Saturday, November 7, 2020 in Kaduna State.
According to the outspoken organization; the people are living in perpetual fear because “kidnapping of our members almost on daily basis” has become a routine with the Federal and Kaduna State governments deliberately ignoring the people’s cry for help.
Recounting the unfortunate incident, SOKAPU said in a statement that; “On the 7th of November, 2020, in brazen impunity, armed men invaded Karji suburb of Kaduna, less than 10km from Government House, Kaduna and kidnapped seven (7) persons, five of them the daughters of Pastor Istifanus Tiswan of Christ Embassy Church.”
It listed names of the kidnapped victims as: “Faith Tiswan; Godsgift Tiswan; Ruth Tiswan; Damaris Tiswan; and Michelle Tiswan”, adding; “The other victim is Haruna Barde, who had escaped violence from his native village to take refuge in Karji as an IDP.”
The Union said with help unfortunately coming from nowhere for the people, particularly the distressed clergyman, it is heart-rendering that “Till date, the kidnappers are yet to make contacts.”
“Kidnapping of our members almost on daily basis has become a source of severe worry for residents living on the fringes of Buyaya, Maraban Rido, Gonin Gora, Karji and Unguwan Juji, all suburbs of Kaduna that fall under Chikun LGA. Many have abandoned their homes to take refuge in safer areas.”
The Union also claimed that “natives of Katarma, Chikun ward, in same Chikun LGA are fleeing in droves across Kaduna river and taking refuge with their Gbagyi tribesmen in Sarkin Pawa town, in neighboring Niger State as a result of fresh assaults over their community.”
Offering further insights on the pains and suffering of their people, the SOKAPU’s statement signed by its Spokesman, Luka Binniyat also disclosed that; “On the 6th of October, 2020, four (4) Gbagyi men were killed by armed men, whom surviving victims and witnesses described as suspected armed Fulani men. The men were ambushed and killed in Dande village, which is part of Kasaya village, in Kunai ward of Chikun LGA.
“They are: John Musa, 45, married with 9 children; Habila Ibrahim, 42, husband of two wives and father of 9; Maikudi Wasa, 25, single; and Samaila Audu, married to two wives and father of 7 children. The injured is, David Umaru, 27.”
Noting that the audacity of kidnappers and sundry criminals continue to be on the rise in areas populated by SOKAPU members, especially in suburbs of Kaduna metropolis, South of Kaduna river, the statement berated Governor Nadir el-Rufai’s legendary nonchalance over the people’s plight.
Mocking the governor over his recent posturing on the #EndSARS protests, SOKAPU also said; “Our Governor said that he was almost moved to tears when he saw the scale of destruction of both private and public property. We are surprised that our governor has tears to shed and can show some humanity on someone’s else tragedy, and not the more humungous one that bothers on genocide and physical destruction of no less magnitude right in his state.”
The statement further said; “The question SOKAPU wants to ask is: Had it been it was the Fulani or Muslims in Kaduna state that are in this calamity and not ethnic persons of mainly Christian faith, would he still display such insensitivity?”
“All the same, let it be on record that every square inch of illegally occupied or acquired land of Southern Kaduna MUST be returned to the owners one day by all legal means. No matter how long. Justice shall also come to our people, no matter how long”, the Union posited
