Call it bloodshed or bloodbath, the fact remains that killings is taking place in Adara community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna. This is just as conflicting figures of casualties have gained more attention than the attempt at addressing the crisis. Pointedly put, the politics of interest seems to have taken the better part of the security situation in the area. Worse still, Governor Nasir el-Rufai, being the Chief Security Officer of the state is perceived as having taken side following his announcement of the killings in which he specifically declared that 66 Fulani were killed in Kajuru on the eve of the postponed February 16, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections. AMOS DUNIA takes a look at the underlying issues in the ethnic killings and reprisal attacks.
Certainly, there are more posers than answers emanating from the attacks and reprisal attacks that have led to scores of death in Kajuru community. And the more questions are asked, the further away from the answers, No thanks to conflicting stories, allegations, accusations and counter accusations from the governor of the state, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, to security chiefs, the representative of Adara community, Fulani, concerned citizens and some members of Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) that have been working on peace initiative in the area.
Going by on the spot assessment by some journalists that visited the afflicted area, it was reliably gathered that Ungwar Barde, a village in Kajuru Local Government Area was attacked on February 10, 2019 during which about 10 people were killed with an additional one that later died on the way to the hospital. The killings were reported to the police, but in spite of the report to the appropriate authority which attracted the visit of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), in the area, the state government did not issue a statement to acknowledge it, talk more of condemning the attack.
However, the same Governor el-Rufai-led government that remained silent on the killing of 10 citizens in Ungwar Barde, found it appropriate to announce the alleged killing of 66 persons which he claimed were of Fulani stock. Curiously too, information pieced together indicated that there was no security measure taken to forestall any further breakdown of law and order or possible reprisal attack that is now generating an unsubstantiated figures of between 66 and 130.
The team of journalists that that visited the killing fields of Kajuru were told that after the attack on Ungwan Barde, another or same set of unknown gunmen launched a deadly attack on Maro settlement during which both the Adara natives and Fulani that have been cohabiting for decades were injured.
Significantly too, the Adara people, who are yet to overcome the trauma of the kidnap and brutal murder of their paramount ruler last year, are still questioning the motive behind Governor el-Rufai identifying the Fulani as victims of an attack on the eve of the postponed national elections while he refused to acknowledge an earlier attack on their community within a space of less than one week.
The journalists were further told that even before the February 15, 2019, when Governor el-Rufai announced that 66 Fulani were killed by Adara natives in Kajuru Local Government Area, Kaduna has witnessed a myriad of crises that saw the state shutting down for days in most cases. It was therefore surprising when the Kaduna State Government announced on February 15, 2019 that at least 66 Fulani in eight settlements in Maro town were killed.
However, former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Chidi Odinkalu, came out strong on a national television to challenge el-Rufai on the claim of 66 Fulani people killed, saying he wondered why the same governor, that visited some of the injured victims of the February 10, attack at St Gerrard Hospital in Kaduna on Tuesday, February 12, held on to the story and only found it worthy to announce on the eve of an election and worst still ethicizing the crisis by ascribing the deaths to a particular ethnic group.
Prof Odinkalu therefore urged Nigerians to interrogate Governor el-Rufai, who he accused of playing politics with the life of the people, stressing that the governor must not be allowed to get away with inciting the people against each other for political gains.
The former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission was not alone as the senator representing the area, Senator Shehu Sani, also debunked el-Rufai’s claim, saying that he was not aware of any such attack on Kajuru, apart from the February 10, 2019 that culminated into the death of 10 persons that include a pregnant woman at Ungwar Barde.
The denial of the allegation of the killing of 66 Fulani would not just stop, as the Chairman of the Kaduna state chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev John Joseph Hayab also came out strong to debunked the statement credited to el-Rufai, saying that the governor was being economical with the truth and trying to instigate the people of the community against each other by twisting facts.
But on Saturday February 16, 2019, el-Rufai took a trip to the troubled area in company of the General officer Commanding (GOC), 1st Mechanized Division, Major General Farouk Yahaya, and the Kaduna State Police Commissioner (CP) Ahmad Abdulrahman and other security chiefs to see the grave in which the victims were buried and some of the burnt houses belonging to the Fulani. After the inspection, el-Rufain insisted that 66 Fulani were killed but remained silent on the 11 Adara people that were earlier massacred.
Allegations Not Adding Up
With the governor claiming that the death toll had risen from 66 to 130 as at Tuesday February 19, 2019, the controversy over the figures became more confusing and troubling. Interestingly, Governor el-Rufai ordered for the immediate arrest of some prominent Adara sons amongst who is the President of Adara Development Association (ADA), Mr Awemi Dio Maisamari over alleged complicity in the killings of Fulani people but no Fulani was arrested over the killings of 11 Adara people.
In spite of the claims that Fulani were killed in scores precisely February 11, 2011, the Adara people insist that there was no such incident and want a concrete proof for the world to see particularly as figures were being bandied without either bodies or photographs to back such claims as was the case with the 11 Adara people that were buried and captured by both the Divisional Police Officer, who gave the go ahead for their burial.
The Voices Of The People
Rev Fr. Donatus Okoye, is the Parish Priest of St Bernard’s Catholic Parish, Idon Gida in Kajuru LGA, who gave his eye witness account saying the tragic event of Sunday February 10, 2019, led to the death of 10 persons, including a pregnant woman, at Ungwar Barde. Rev Fr. Okoye who displayed pictures of the burial of the 10 people he conducted, explained that he is only aware of the 10 Adara natives that were murdered by suspected Fulani.
According to him; “I have a good relationship with the Fulani. We celebrate Christmas and Sallah together. On the issue of killings, it started on the 10th of February, 2019. On Sunday, at about 11pm, Fulani herdsmen invaded Ungwar Barde I, in Kajuru Local Government Area and killed 10 persons, including a pregnant woman. The next day, being Monday 11th of February, we were able to get the corpses and sent information to the police in Kajuru Local Government Area. We requested the Division Police Officer (DPO) to come and see what was happening and he came with some of his men. After our investigation, we discovered that 10 persons were murdered by suspected Fulani herdsmen. They left their sticks before retreating into the bush. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), left with the sticks. The police confirmed that it was indeed Fulani herdsmen that carried out the killings. On the 11th February, we saw Fulani moving out of the area to Crossing-Katul and other towns in Kachia Local Government Area. After the police investigation, they sent a message to the Kajuru Local Government Chairman, who confirmed that everything was true and that the Fulani carried out the attack.”
He continued; “Later in the evening, we organised a Mass Service for the burial of the 10. We have pictures to confirm that these 10 people were killed. The same day, in the night at Maro town, some unknown gunmen invaded the town. We have been trying to trace where the attackers came from, but we are yet to establish their identities. They came and continued to shoot guns and injured some Fulani and Adara people. Some of the injured ran to Iri and some assistance was given to them. Some were taken to the police at Idon Hanya and hospital. Many Christians were injured and also many Fulani. The issue of killings, as stated by the governor, that Fulani herdsmen were killed, numbering about 100, is not a true story.
“When the governor came on the 16th of February, around 4pm, he came here and passed through Iri. He mentioned earlier that there was war at Iri, but it was not true. At Iri, the governor and his convoy passed and saw children still playing on the street. They went to Barkira. I asked the Fulani why they were parking, and they said that they were afraid of the killing of Christians at Ungwar Barde 1, and feared that unknown gunmen may also attack them. Even on Tuesday and Wednesday (February 12 and 13) some of the Fulani slept in my house.”
In Iri Village, We live Peacefully As Christians, Muslims – Village Head
The village head of Iri, Mr. Sunday Patrick, told journalists that there is no crisis in the village, as both Muslims, comprising largely Hausa traders and the Adara natives, live in peace, adding that Governor el-Rufai only passed through the town on his way to Maro town as his visit was not meant for Iri.
In his words; “Nothing happened in this community. Nobody was killed in this community, honestly. Maybe they misplaced the name of the place. In Iri, we are peaceful. The governor did not visit here, but he passed to Maro. The Christians and Muslims here are peaceful, we have been living here for many years and nothing has ever happened.”
The Journey To Ungwar Barde 1.
Ungwar Barde 1, which is surrounded by hills is a small settlement with about 75 houses without any basic infrastructure. It was in this settlement that the February 10, attack reportedly took place. The journalists were taken to the graves of the 10 victims, including a 90-year old blind grandmother, Maria, whose son and grandson were also among the dead.
The Village Head, Mr. Daniel Audu, said the attack on his people was unprovoked, saying that his community has never experienced any form of misunderstanding with Fulani whom he said don’t live in his domain and therefore expressed concern that life in the village is becoming frightening, as the people have deserted the town for fear of the unknown.
Audu further said; “On the night of 10th February, I was laying in my room. I slept around 8pm because the weather was cold. While I was sleeping, I was woken by a knock on my door. I woke up to check, but I didn’t see anybody. They knocked again, I came out but I did not see anybody. Immediately I returned to the room, I heard gunshots, I came out and didn’t see anybody.Returning to my room, I heard another gunshot and now came out and moved to this very place (pointing at a spot near his house). I saw a woman running towards me, she was shouting, saying that everybody should wake up. Fulani have stormed our community.
“By that time, members of the community became aware of the attack, I ran into the bush and remained there until I was not hearing gun shots again. When I returned from the bush, I met my family members that had also returned from hiding. I asked them what was happening? I then went to the houses that were attacked. When I got there, I discovered that there are some that were shot by guns and others were cut down with machetes. We checked those that were dead, they were eight in number. I called the youth to carry the injured to hospital. Two of them later died on the way to the hospital.
“I now went to search for network to call the District Head. The District Head called the DPO who came on Monday. On his arrival, we told him what happened and showed him the corpses. Thereafter he gave us permission to bury the victims. We don’t know anything like reprisal. Even when we invited the DPO, he saw everybody here. There was no retaliation. There is no Fulani living here as they are migrants by nature and I can tell you that no Fulani was attacked. If there was any attack, then it was outside of our domain.
“No government official or representative has come here to commiserate with us. We have also not received any form of relief from any agency of government.”
The Fulani Victims’ Burial Site
Upon a visit to some of the attacked homes in Ungwar Barde, journalists were taken to the site of a shallow grave, near Rugan Salihu where three police vans were seen evacuating properties of Fulani. When asked if the Fulani in the vans were survivors of the attacks, the leader of the evacuation team and member of the Kaduna State Peace Commission, Dr. Saleh Momole, said most of Fulani were volunteers who had turned up to assist in the evacuation of animals and properties of victims. Two of the victims were detailed to join and assist the media team visit the shallow graves where the Fulani had buried their dead ones. The two representatives of the Fulani are Ibrahim Yusuf and Lawal Adamu, who said they told Governor el-Rufai what took place when he visited the grave last Saturday.
Again, after passing Ungwan Doruwa, the journalists were told that a corpse of a native, Late Maiwasa Sunday Atta, was discovered on February 11 and buried same day while two carcasses of burnt motorcycles, believed to belong to two of the victims, were by the grave site. Lawal later told the journalists that the police and soldiers took pictures of the corpses before they were buried just as he insisted that the Adara people killed about 130 of his people.
Lawal further said that he spent five days to bury about 37 corpses with the help of three of his brothers and also led the visiting journalists to Ruga Salihu where he alleged that Adara attackers had a field day killing helpless Fulani victims, including women and children. Lawal could only point to a distant hill side where he said about 18 of the victims were buried but showed some hesitation in advancing to the area.
According to him; “We have been living in peace with Adara people for years. I am now 39-years old and have been living in this community since my childhood. We cook together and sometimes they do cook for us during celebrations. That has been the tradition. I grew up to meet that and I don’t know the motives behind this tradition. The only thing is we don’t marry ourselves.
We suspect that the killers are Adara people. I can tell you that 131 Fulani were killed. We buried 37 people here in the presence of security agencies who took pictures. I am the one who gave the figures of the people killed to the governor when he visited us.”
The Police Account By CP Abdulrahman
The Kaduna state Commissioner of Police (CP), Ahmad Abdulrahman, however debunked the claims of Lawal, who said that the police witnessed the burial of Fulani victims, stressing that he dissuaded Governor el-Rufai from going public with the casualty figures, as investigation into the matter was at an ‘embryonic stage’.
Abdulrahman explained that the claim of the representative of the Fulani that policemen witnessed the burying of their loved ones and even took pictures is certainly a mix-up as the hamlet where they said they buried the bodies of the victims was discovered by the military, adding that the terrain is difficult to assess and very terrible.
In the words of the CP; “It is difficult to know where and where was affected on February 11th when it happened. No policemen went to the area ahead of the military. It was the military that went there first to assist probably the Fulani that were affected and help them to bury their dead. We policemen came along with the GOC, whose men discovered the place and we went together.
“Until we fully conclude our investigations, we cannot come up with a figure because, you may come up with a figure now and later, you have to come and say it again. “Right now, if the governor tells you even 200, he is just quoting figures. It may be more than that or less than that. For example, the areas you have visited where we were told that 36 bodies were buried, it was not under the purview of the security at the beginning of the investigation until when the Fulani victims themselves came out crying after we had secured all the places with our military counterpart. They now approach the military that come and escort them to bury their relations. That was when it was uncovered
“As I told the governor himself, I said figures in a crisis of this magnitude should be left until all investigations have been finished. All those areas we are getting information are covered. You cannot come up with a figure. As I’m talking to you now, my men are still in the bush, plus SEMA and other CSOs. That’s why professionally, we don’t come out with figures until when we are sure and conclude our investigation.”
Questions Begging For Answers
*It is pertinent to ask why Governor Nasir el-Rufai chose to remain silent on the earlier killing of 11 persons that took place at Ungwar Barde but was quick to announce a figure that was given to him by an individual without an attempt to subject such bandied figure to scrutiny and thorough security investigations and worse still, ascribing it to ethnic group?
*What measures were put in place to forestall further killings after the February 10, 2019 attacks, taking into consideration, the fact that the police were fully briefed and even gave the go ahead for the burial of the victims.
*What effort has been made to track and arrest the perpetrators of the February 10, attacks at Ungwar Barde to give the people a sense of fairness and belonging and not just the arrest of people from one side of the divide?
*What was the intention behind classifying the Fulani as victims of the attacks on the eve of postponed national polls particularly when it was clear that both the Adara and Fulani people were both casualties?
* Is it proper for a state chief security officer to obtain just oral evidence from an individual and jump to conclusion without listening to any other account or at least hearing the other said and allowing the police to carry out investigation?
From the foregoing, it is clear that the state government’s handling of the crisis has not in any way assisted security agencies particularly, the police to carry out a thorough check to enable it unearth the actual figure of the death. Is it really late to go to the graves to exhume the bodies for proper verification and identification? While it may not be correct to attempt to deny killings on both sides, it is however proper to allow for security verification of those buried alongside pictures being displayed. The life of one human being is important and must be consciously protected by the government whose responsibility it is to safeguard all and not some.
It is on this note that it should be said and emphasized upon, that to bury any Nigerian victim of violence without profiling his/her identity amounts to a gross violation of the citizen. It is therefore important to toe the path of a transparent process that would unveil the truth of what actually took place and not what some individuals want to dish out based on political interest, ethnic and primordial sentiments.
The time to act with the fear of God is now!
