Two suspects recently paraded by the army
Tsonje,
a village in the heart of Kaura local government of Kaduna is the
latest victim of attacks by unidentified gunmen in the Southern
senatorial zone. They attacked last Saturday and engaged local vigilante
and policemen in a gun battle, at the end of which two men identified
as Ephraim Ezekiel and Joshua Ladi lay dead. Village Head Adamu Abbah
said five people were killed, and that it happened while they were on
their way to their farms. The attack unsettled villagers greatly, as it
had seemed all necessary security measures were in place.
Following the incessant violence in the area, both the state and
federal governments took a number of measures. The state government
declared a 24-hour curfew in three of the local governments where the
attacks are prevalent. Southern Kaduna has eight local governments. The
state government later relaxed the curfew in Jema’a and Zangon Kataf to
12 hours, but retained that of Kaura.
The state government also sent hundreds of policemen to the zone,
while the federal government sent Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim
Idris, who in turn deployed more policemen to the zone. The Nigerian
Army is also in the process of setting up two battalions in Southern
Kaduna, while the Air Force continues to carry out air surveillance
across flashpoints.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported yesterday
that 204 people have been killed in the crisis, marking the first time a
government agency is providing a figure of the attacks since they began
last year.
Before the attack on Tsonje, gunmen said by locals to be Fulani
herdsmen under similar circumstances of heavy military presence and
under a 24-hour curfew launched an attack on Goska village, about 5km
from Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area, killing five women and
burning several houses. The attackers were said to have targeted homes
of local community and youth leaders.
Senator Danjuma Laah, who spoke on the attack, alluded it to a
possible collaboration between what he called Boko haram elements and
herdsmen in the area.
The Nigerian Army recently cautioned Nigerians about possible attacks
from Boko Haram elements who it said were fleeing the sacking of their
operational base at Sambisa Forest.
Kaduna State governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, said some of the
masterminds of the attacks and killings have been arrested. Some of the
suspects include one Saleh Sabiu, Auwwal Madaki, Bashir Yusuf and Idris
Iliyasu.
But the suspects denied the charge saying they were arrested under
different circumstances. Sabiu said: “I was accused by my uncle of
snatching his son’s motorcycle in Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna
state three months ago. He reported the matter to the police and I have
been in detention for over 20 days.”
In December, the General Officer Commanding the 1 Mechanised Infantry
Division, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade said his troops intercepted two
men carrying live ammunition in Kagoma Chiefdom. He said the
middle-aged men were driving in a maroon-coloured Volkswagen vehicle,
passing the front of the Sarkin Kagoma’s palace when they were nabbed.
“They’ve been arrested,” he said.
Before that, 17 suspects were arrested in cases of arms dealing in
different parts of Kaduna State. They include one Nelson Kpok and Yakubu
Dangana. But most of the residents of Southern Kaduna believe that
Fulani herdsmen are responsible for the attacks, believing they want to
sack them from their villages so they can have access to grazing routes.
One of the community leaders at Anguwan Anjo, Mr. Samuel Auta blamed
the attacks on Fulani herdsmen. But he made a distinction between the
Fulani resident in the area and those coming from outside. “We are being
attacked by those herdsmen that come from outside, not the ones living
with us here,” he said.
Then Thursday, portions of a release from the Muslim Youth Foundation
of Southern Kaduna (MYFOSKA), jointly signed by Alhaji Muhammad MK
Qaseem (Chairman, Jama’a Foundation Kafanchan Chapter) and Malam Dabo
Abdullahi (National Secretary, Muslim Youth Foundation of Southern
Kaduna) read: “Muslim communities in the area have been living in
difficult conditions due to the persistent state of provocation and
insecurity including intimidation, premeditated violence and
bloodletting which resulted in the mass killings and total displacement
of Muslim communities in Zangon-Kataf, Zonkwa, Matsirga, Unguwan Rimi
Baju, Kwoi, Jaban Kogo, Gidan Maga etc have been witnessed in the last
three decades.”
The release added that the recurrent violence has received widespread
publicity in the media, including the most recent disturbances in parts
of Kaura and Jama’a LGAs, which was tabled at the National Assembly by
the partisan elected representatives from Southern Kaduna, and is full
of distortions. “Ninte is a settlement in Godogodo chiefdom, Jema’a LGA.
On 25/05/16, some herdsmen were grazing their cattle in the area when a
farmer accused them of destroying his crops this resulted in
disagreements. The pastoralists’ leader (Ardo) of the area intervened
and initiated a peace move. He went to the District Head office to
assure the community of their desire to pay compensation to the
aggrieved farmer. Unfortunately, he was attacked and killed by irate
youths in the presence of the District Head and other community members.
Immediately afterwards, the youths from the farming communities
proceeded on rampage, burning all Fulani settlements in and around
Godogodo attacked and killed every herdsmen on-sight.” The release said
this forced the herdsmen to respond in self-defense. It also listed a
number of incidents of killings and other forms of violence.
The release also said: “Fulani have been part and parcel of Southern
Kaduna for over 400 Years. It is on record that they founded Jama’a
Emirate circa 1804. We appeal to media houses, the National Human Rights
Commission and NGOs such as the Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project among others to always verify facts before coming
to conclusions on critical issues like this. We strongly condemn the
taking of innocent lives and support all Government efforts aim at
restoring peaceful co-existence.”
The group went on to make the following recommendations: “Governments
need to consider the payment of compensation to victims and support the
resettlement of displaced persons affected or displaced from such from
2011 to date. There is the need for increased security surveillance on
the highways and community roads to checkmate the ambush and killing of
innocent travellers,” among other recommendations.
The group also appealed to Senator Shehu Sani, Femi Fani-Kayode and
Asari Dokubo, and all other politicians, not to politicize the killing
of innocent Muslims and Christians of Southern Kaduna. “The sanctity of
life need to be protected and all efforts should be geared towards
building consensus among the communities, rather than fuelling
sentiments that will spark further killings and destruction of
properties,” it concluded.
Malam Yakubu Gambo, a resident of Ninte village, confirmed the
village was sacked by herdsmen last year. He said it is only two weeks
ago that people started returning to their homes, after soldiers were
deployed there. Returnees prefer to make their homes close to where the
soldiers are stationed. Ninte, Akwa, Golgofa, Gada Biyu, Anjul are some
of the villages attacked last year. Others include Passakori, Mile,
Unguwan Missisi Kirim, Zakum, Mayit, Agwom, Zakai Gira, Telak Tunga
and Magwot.
Leader of the Jonde Jam Fulani Youth Association, Alhaji Saidu
Maikano, however blamed the crisis on the attacks launched against
Fulani residents, adding that it is because the perpetrators are not
arrested that leads to reprisals and escalation of violence. He added
that the non-prosecution of the culprits after the Zangon Kataf crisis
has also led to further strains in the communities.
Traditional rulers in the area have equally expressed concern, and
have suggested ways of attaining peace. Emir of Jema’a, Muhammadu Isa
Muhammadu, said the presence of the army in the area will reassure the
people of government’s concern and pledged to continue to talk to his
people.
The traditional ruler of Bajju, Malam Nuhu Bature, on his part
appealed to the security agencies to do their best. “We use to live in
peace, but now things have changed; We cannot continue this way,” he
added.
The Agwatyap, a traditional ruler in Zangon Kataf, Dominic Gambo
Yahaya, said he has been making efforts on his part to ensure peace in
the area, recalling a time he had to call a meeting with Fulani, Hausa,
and other residents, particularly the youth and urged them to be
law-abiding, adding that without peace there can be no development.
