Southern Kaduna: Nigerians In Diaspora Petition International Criminal Court

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Nigerians in Diaspora have petitioned the International Criminal Court (ICC) and demanded that it should take action on the genocide taking place in parts of Nigeria, particularly in Southern Kaduna.

In the petition addressed to ‘The Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court, Hon. Fatou Bensouda, the Nigerians in Diaspora said that the ICC has failed Nigeria and Nigerians, adding that the fact remains that history will find her culpable for her signal failure and inaction on Nigeria.

The Nigerians in Diaspora particularly told the Chief Prosecutor that in the space of one week, the people of Southern Kaduna experienced a devastating series of attacks in Nigeria’s pernicious mid-grade genocide.

The Diasporas therefore urged the ICC Chief prosecutor to make a determination that Nigeria has failed the complementarity test and has not adequately addressed crimes against humanity in domestic courts.

The petition which was signed by A. Undieh – Maryland, G. Ukwuani – Washington DC, I Okpa – Maryland, I. Hajara – Florida, C. Mba – California, N. Obianozie – Texas, G. Ngofa – Texas, C. Nwaohi – California, S. Nwaohia – California, A. Nwaohia – California, I. Ajayi – Connecticut, Rev Polycarp Gbaja – Kaduna State, Nigeria, S. Ojapah – Katsina State, B. Kantiok – California, S. Umunna – Chicago, I. Akintunde – Lancaster United Kingdom and Emmanuel Ogebe, ESQ, of the US-NIGERIA LAW GROUP based in Washington further states that Nigeria’s failure to prosecute Fulani killer Herdsmen is an implicit support and or enabling of their genocidal actions given Buhari’s own Fulani antecedents and activism.

They listed some of the atrocities to include; Zipak, a semi-urban town in Fanstwam Chiefdom, Jema’a Local Government Area in Southern Kaduna, which suffered the killing of 10 people when the Fulani militia attacked at about 7:00pm on Friday, July 24, 2020.

The petitioners noted that even though Zipak is just about two kilometers from the heart of Kafanchan where there is presence of a cantonment of the Army, Police and Paramilitary units, the attacking Militia had a field day.

The Nigerians in Diasporas, who said that they are seeking to end impunity in the Nigerian genocide, also noted that the so-called formidable security arrangement the Presidency claimed to be in place in Southern Kaduna is at best, a ruse and a mirage, going by increasing casualties and the impunity of the Fulani armed men.

The Petition states; “We are under a genocidal campaign by Fulani Militia, who have become sacred cows with President Buhari and Governor Nasir El-rufai, who are both Fulani, twisting the truth to say the Fulani are on “reprisals”.

They also noted that after the massacre of innocent and defenceless Southern Kaduna people, the Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State immediately imposed a 24 hour curfew over the entire Jema’a Local Government Area, noting that it was under the curfew that the Fulani militia returned on July 25, to wreak more havoc on the community still in shock and mourning from the previous day’s massacre.

The petition further states; “Also, as it rained around 8:00pm, Thursday, 23rd July 2020 at Agwala Magayaki of Doka Avong, Kajuru LGA in Southern Kaduna, armed Fulani militia took advantage of the darkness and torrential rain and attacked the village for the second time in a month, leaving 7 persons dead.

It also noted that on the June 20, 2020, the same village was invaded by the Fulani militia, some known by the villagers, and 7 persons were killed.

On the 22nd of July 2020, as it rained on Kizachi in Chawai chiefdom, Kauru LGA in Southern Kaduna, Fulani militia broke into homes, and attacked villagers with knives, daggers and matchetes.

It noted that in 72 hours, a total of 23 harmless Southern Kaduna natives were killed by Fulani militia.

“This is apart from over 40 murdered victims of Fulani militia in Kaura and Zangon Kataf, also in Southern Kaduna days earlier.

“These and several others have created a humanitarian crisis in Chikun, Zangon Kataf, Kaura and Kajuru LGAs as thousands of IDPs can barely survive hunger, sickness and various trauma.

“It is therefore totally untrue that the mass murder of our people is an outcome of clashes between criminal gangs as portrayed by President Mohammed Buhari, through his Spokesman, Shehu Garba.

“Our victims are not members of criminal gangs, but mostly kids, women and the aged.


The petitioners also said that in neighboring Katsina state, also in northwest Nigeria, no fewer than 40 innocent children, officers and men of the military were slained on Saturday July 18, 2020, adding that 11 children in Yammama Village, Malumfashi Local Government Area of the state, were fiddling with what they innocently thought to be toys, when the grenades they found in a farm they were cutting grasses to feed domestic animals exploded in their faces.

“Six of them, including five from the same parent, died on the spot about 11.30am. 16 Nigerian soldiers and officers lost their lives in Jibia axis of the state. The troops were advancing in Shimfida Village of Jibia Local Government Area when they were ambushed by dare-devil gunmen at about 6.13pm.

Apart from the atrocities of the killer Herdsmen in Nigeria’s northwest, terror group Boko Haram struck in the northeast as well. On Wednesday July 22, Nigeria has cemented its record as a graveyard for aid-workers with Boko Haram’s release of another execution video.

“The latest executions of five, maintain the statistics of one aid worker killed every quarter for the last 10 years straight – a fact of grave concern for international protected persons. Luka Philibus was a 30 year old employee of an NGO. He was a member of EYN church (which has lost over 10,000 members to terrorism). He and his family have been displaced from their community in Gwoza Borno State for six years (12 brothers and sisters and aged parents. Luka began working for the NGO just last year. This is not the first time staff of the NGO have been abducted. Luka lasted seven weeks in captivity.

“Abdurhaman Bulama was also an Aid worker. Married with two children, his hospitality was legendary.

A fellow Aid worker said that “Abdulrhaman was a great guy. He even brought his wife to visit us in Maiduguri. I have visited almost everywhere in Northern Borno, from Dikwa, Marte, Gamboru-Ngala, Baga, Gozamala, Abadam, Ngazai, Gubio etc and have met so many people, but Mr Bulama is exceptional. He was a man you can count on any time. He was kidnapped by ISWAP on the 1st of June on his way to his hometown Monguno but never returned. He was a man of his words. I am so sad that Mr Abdulrhaman is amongst those Humanitarian Aid Workers cruelly assassinated by Boko Haram Terrorist group. Bulama was Muslim.

Yakubu Ishaya Chirama is believed to be one of reportedly two men from Chibok, who were amongst those executed. They were Christians.

It is to be noted that although Boko Haram’s stated objective is the extermination of Christianity, western democracy and imposition of an islamist theocracy, Muslims are often collateral victims of the genocidal terrorism and Muslim government workers are subject to execution as well.

“The execution video came days after the multiple bloody massacres in Kaduna which were also religious-based attacks. This compelling video from Southern Kaduna drives home the urgency of action to stem the genocide.

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The petitioners accused the ICC Chief prosecutor of dragging her feet on genocide in Nigeria for too long, stressing that till this date, her office has not identified and declared perpetrators of the terrorist genocide in Nigeria wanted as she continues an endless “preliminary examination” while atrocities continue on a daily basis as illustrated above.

The Diasporas said that Nigeria has failed to adequately prosecute offenders or restitute victims, adding that the same week of these atrocities, the government of President Buhari “reintegrated” 602 Boko Haram Terrorists and paid each N20,000, brand new clothes etc.

The statement further said that Boko Haram victims are in wretched IDP camps, dying of malnutrition, suffering rape by camp officials and children being trafficked.

They stated; “Worse of all IDPs like Luka who found a job helping victims was executed by the terrorists.

Shockingly, military whistle blowers have lamented that rehabilitated terrorists are rejoining Boko Haram. There is utter impunity and in fact reward for terrorism but deprivation and denial of justice for victims.

“With regard to Fulani Herdsmen killings, there have been no arrests and prosecutions despite thousands killed. Not since 2010 when Killer Fulani Herdsmen were imprisoned for the Dogo Nawaha massacre in Plateau state, has anyone been convicted”.

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8 Comments

  1. My people are killed in cool blood. No one knows who is next. People are living in fear of the unknown. We can not fight back, they come in multiple. They come well armed. The Federal /State government is not saying anything. No more security in our lands.

    Our hope is in God.

  2. The Adara first class chief in southern Kaduna part was killed since 2018,Govt.El-rufai didn’t say anything,up till now he refused the Adara people a new chief,a clear indication that he is behind all the evil in southern kaduña.

  3. My people are killed everyday,we can’t breath any more in our father’s land the Nigerian government has denied us our constitunal right (protection of life and property) because we are Christian’s in the North.

  4. I join all the good people of Nigeria and Southern Zaria (Kaduna) in particular to sign the petition. Truly, the present government – President and Governor of the State have failed innocent and law abiding Nigerians. Instate of punishing the law breakers, we see the governments rewarding them, while the defenseless are being killed in their numbers. If the ICC and the government in place do not do something, help will certainly come for us from God.

  5. I sign the petition as a concerned Nigerian citizen and indigen of Southern Kaduna. I stand with the millions of innocent and defenceless Nigerians who have been widowed, orphaned, and rendered homeless by insurgents and Fulani Militia.
    I stand with Southern Kaduna my Homeland, against the coordinated acts of genocide against my people, whose only crime is being Christians planted by God in an oasis within a desert.
    I stand against the goernment’s glaring complicity in these heinous crimes against humanity.

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