Southern Kaduna Killings: SOKAPU Constitutes Committee To Return IDPs To Ancestral Homes

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BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), has inaugurated a 20-man committee, headed by Rev. Father Williams Abba to work out modalities of assisting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Adara communities to rebuild their ravaged communities and return them to their ancestral homes.

Inaugurating the committee while distributing foodstuff and building materials to the displaced Adara people in Kajuru and part of Kachia Local Government Areas at Mararaba Kajuru on Saturday, President of SOKAPU, Barrister Solomon K. Musa, said the committee would also include the ravaged Nandu village, in Sanga Local Government Area, where another attack by  herdsmen last month left eight people dead and 48 houses burnt.

Before Inaugurating the Committee on behalf of the President of SOKAPU, Barrister Solomon Kaptain Musa, SOKAPU Chairman, Relieve and Intervention Committee, Dr. Joshua La’ah informed a gathering of stakeholders that 129 Adara natives have been killed in the violence which started on the April 10, 2019.

He said that the figure was arrived at after each affected committee came up with evidence of its victims in a well arranged format which can be made available anytime it is needed.

He further said that in Nbok and Nandu, in Sanga Local Government Area, eight persons were killed and 48 houses destroyed, adding that none of the survivors is in any refugee camp.

The SOKAPU President also said that there are currently a total of 12,420 Adara IDPs scattered in 11 camps mostly in Kajuru Local Government Area with Maraban Kajuru town having the highest number of 4,4110 persons, mostly children, women and infirmed aged ones.

According to him, JSS Kajuru and Adara Town Hall, Sabo and Kaduna has 3,477 and 2,5011 respectively among others.

Dr. La’ah thanked individuals, groups and organisations that contributed to the welfare of the IDPs and further asked for more assistance.

He however noted that the most the important desire of the IDPs was that they return home to their communities and eke out a living if their security can be assure as the rainy season has already commenced.

He explained that it was based on that demand that SOKAPU constituted a 20-man committee and charged it with the responsibility of carrying out an assessment of the extent of the damages suffered by affected villages with the aim of mobilising assistance for their rebuilding and resettlement of willing IDPs.

In his remarks, Father Williams Abba, who accepted the responsibility with thanks on behalf of members of his committee, said they would do their best in the interest of Southern Kaduna and Christianity.

At the IDP camp, in LEA Primary School, Maraban Kajuru, Father Williams presented 110 bundles of roofing sheets; 60 packets of roofing nails, 5 bags of rice, 5 bags of maize, assorted soaps, detergents and 4 large bags of clothing to cheering crowd of IDPs on behalf of SOKAPU.

While addressing the crowd, he said, “Our brothers and sisters in Adara land and other parts of Southern Kaduna have been traumatized and terrorized. They have buried in hundreds, their kit and kin. They are still nurturing the injured.

“We are grateful that some of them have made significant progress. Some of the injured are still in the hospitals and many more have been discharged. Regrettably, some of them may have to leave with permanent disabilities.

“Community after community have been sacked and are still being sacked. Houses have been razed down. Food barns have been turned into ashes. Our brothers and sisters have been displaced. They are without shelter. They are hungry. They are vulnerable.

“Let me state here: SOKAPU cannot substitute Kaduna State Emergency Agency (SEMA) or the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). These government agencies must be alive to their responsibilities.

“It is however, our duty and those of many good spirited individuals to come to the aid of our relations. They need us now. They want to feel us closer to them. What Southern Kaduna People’s Union has done today by organizing this event for which relief materials will be presented and the committee for the resettlement of the displaced inaugurated is to challenge our common humanity as well as sense of brotherhood and push everyone of us into action.

“It is not enough to cry for the victims. We must do something. Our deliberate efforts in the coming days will speak volumes about us. We must intervene. We must help our brothers and sisters to overcome fear, rebuild their homes and go back to their communities,” he said.

The Chairman, of the IDP camp, Mr. Ali Kuri Ado, thanked SOKAPU, saying their most important need was security and return to their homes.

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