Kaduna State Attack Victims Buried En-mass!

Local authority said the remains of about 150 Southern Kaduna natives were on Saturday, March 15, 2014, buried in a mass grave in Unguwant Gata, Maroa Chiefdom of Karua Local Government Area, Kaduna state, North-west Nigeria.

Eye witness account said Sankwai, Tekum and Unguwan Gata villages in Maroa Chiefdom were on Saturday invaded by Fulani gunmen, killing no fewer than 200 natives and burning the three villages, after plundering them. Southern Kaduna villages were drab over the attacks as churches across the Chiefdom held special prayers for the deceased.

Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) the umbrella body for ethnic nationalities in the southern part of Kaduna State, said the people of the area are left with no choice than to defend themselves against what has become frequent attacks and killings by Fulani gunmen.

Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, President of SOKAPU, Dr. Ephraim Goje, said the persistent attacks and massacres of the people is a clear indication that the government and the security agencies were not capable of protecting the people. He said the frequent killings and destruction of homes and properties makes it imperative for the people to defend themselves by whatever means necessary.

“The Fulanis have unofficially declared war on our people. No community has the monopoly of violence, so our people are being pushed to a level that we may take certain actions aimed at defending ourselves and our land in order to put an end to this impunity and senseless killings.” Goje said.

He added that since 2011, over 5,000 people had been displaced in the 40 attacks on communities in the southern part of Kaduna state.

“We have identified the perpetrators as Fulani herdsmen as responsible for the attacks and killings, but each time we raise this observation, the Fulani socio-cultural organisations within the state have out-rightly denied the involvement of their people, asking for proofs.”

Goje further stated that two Fulani youths in Manchok led Saturday’s attack, during which 219 people were killed, noting that the Fulani youths died in the process and their corpses were identified by the locals.

“The recent attack was led by two well known young Fulanis resident in Manchock town, who died in the process. Their dead bodies had clearly and unambiguously been identified by the natives and their corpses are now kept by the Joint Task Force, JTF, Command in Kafanchan for further forensic screening.

“This has clearly vindicated us and confirms our earlier position that the Fulanis have declared a jihad on the people of Southern Kaduna and Nigeria, evidenced by this genocide in Bondong, the murder in Katsina State, Birnin Gwari, Plateau, Zamfara, Taraba, Benue, among others.

“In some of these attacks, suspects had been arrested and handed over to security agencies for prosecution, only for the culprits to be seen working freely on the streets the next day.

“What comes to our minds now is that, truly, the Fulanis have unofficially declared war on our people. Let it be placed on record that no community has the monopoly of violence, so our people are being pushed to the wall and we may take certain steps aimed at defending ourselves and our land in order to put an end to this impunity,” Goje warned.

Goje lamented the lack of collaboration between security agencies in Kaduna and Plateau states noting that the attackers often come in from the Plateau axis to attack Atakar and Marwa Chiefdoms which borders Plateau State. Moreso, that each time the gunmen were chased by security agents from Kaduna State, they ran to Plateau state where they walk freely to celebrate their so-called victories.

Information source: Vanguard News