Bloodthirsty Fulani herdsmen have allegedly murdered about 808 people and attacked 53 villages in Southern Kaduna.
*Photo used for illustrative purpose*
The Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan yesterday, alleged that about
808 people were killed in southern Kaduna State with 57 injured. He
also revealed that 53 villages were attacked in the state.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai has described the attackers as foreign
Fulani herdsmen, who were avenging past attacks on them and their
livestock. The Governor had earlier revealed that he had to pay them money to stop them from further killing the people of Southern Kaduna, a claim that was brutally condemned.
While speaking to newsmen, at a news conference in Kafanchan, the
Vicar General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan, Ibrahim Yakubu,
said the government failed to protect locals.
Yakubu, who addressed reporters along with four other priests, said
four local government areas had been attacked with 808 people killed
and 1,422 houses, 16 churches, 19 shops, and one primary school
destroyed.
He added: “Unfortunately, our government both at the centre and
state levels have failed woefully. If anything, government has shown
outright partisanship in favour of the herdsmen to the disappointment of
the majority Southern Kaduna indigenes and Christians.”
The cleric, however, called for immediate end to attacks, and
demanded compensation for all families that lost loved ones or property.
He also called for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to
investigate the causes of the crisis.
Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) also lamented that Southern
Kaduna had become a slaughter house and a cemetery where human lives had
become so cheap to destroy.
Sani, who visited his colleague representing Kaduna South, Senator
Danjuma La’ah, called for security presence in all the villages and
towns, as well as civilians Joint Task Force (JTF) to protect the
communities.
“The way out of this mess is the need for security presence in
all the villages and towns in Southern Kaduna. There is also need for
Civilian JTF where the communities will be fully involved, funding and
supporting, to protect their own communities.
“It is unfortunate that Southern Kaduna has become a slaughter
house and a cemetery, where human lives have become so cheap to
destroy.”
While expressing his heart-felt sympathy to the people over the magnitude of destruction of lives and property he noted:
“Southern Kaduna killings is a reality in Nigeria and northern part of
this country in particular of what has been happening for years. It is
very clear the government is unable to protect lives and property of its
citizens.”
“The tragedy in Southern Kaduna is also translating to Niger
State, which is close to Abuja. So you can see the danger of these
killings to other cities in the country.”
“There is need for an immediate action to stop the activities of these herdsmen killing innocent people,” he said
Sani suggested that there was need for an economic master plan for
Southern Kaduna to address the neglect, abandonment, poverty and
underdevelopment that have ravaged the zone for a very long time.
The senator argued that “neutralising Southern Kaduna is not
enough without any economic agenda”. “We must develop the area and make
all parts of the area accessible by providing infrastructure and
developing social amenities as the only way we can have a permanent
solution.
“Also, there is need to have consultative community
interactions to enable the natives and cattle rearers and others ethnic
groups interact for better understanding.
“Enough is a word that can only be qualified when there is
satisfaction by the side of those who are victims. The first right in
the Nigerian constitution is the right to life.
“The government cannot be seen to say it has done enough until
and unless these killings stop. The Federal Government must provide the
necessary environment.
“I think ending this problem has gone beyond what people are
thinking. It should be accompanied with an economic blueprint to face
the problem of underdevelopment and neglect of the Southern part of the
state.
“It is very clear that the people of Southern Kaduna are being
treated as outcast. They only listen to Plateau media stations to know
what is happening in Nigeria.
“Southern Kaduna depends on Plateau to exist as human beings. It is very unfortunate,” Sani said.
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