The bloodletting in southern Kaduna continued unabated in the last 48 hours with the killing and counter-killing of 16 persons.
First it was the erasure of the lives of five members of a family and two others in Gona Gan village in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area (LGA), according to the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU).
The invaders, believed to be Fulani herdsmen, also burnt down 17 houses in the village.
The victims are: Ayuba Sheyin, 65; Jummai Sheyin, 55; Patience Sheyin, 5; Goodluck Sheyin,11 and Saviour Sheyin, 14. They are all of the same household.
The rest are: Peter Akau, 70 and Joel Ishaya 35.
On Saturday, the State Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, disclosed that nine persons lost their lives in a reprisal attack.
“The military under the auspices of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) and the police have informed the Kaduna State Government of counter-attacks on some herder settlements in Kauru and Lere local government areas.
“According to the operational feedback from the security agencies, the attacks were carried out by aggrieved youths following the killing of seven persons on Thursday night in Gora Gan, Zangon Kataf local government.
“The security agencies reported that seven herders were killed in a counter killing in Ungwan Idi and Kasheku villages of Kauru local government while two herders were injured at Ningi village of Lere local government.
“The seven herders killed at Ungwan Idi and Kasheku villages in Kauru local government are as follows: Mustapha Haruna, Ya’u Kada, Sa’idu Abdullahi, Zainab Zakari, Sadiya Abdullahi, Aisha Abdullahi and one unidentified woman burnt beyond recognition .
“Five persons are still missing and troops are searching for them in the general area. Six huts were burnt in the attack. ”
“Aisha Mohammed (20 years) and Sadiya Abdullahi (25 years) who were wounded in the Kauru LGA reprisal attack are receiving medical attention at Ungwan Idi Clinic.
“At Ningi village of Lere local government area, two herders were injured and rushed to General Hospital, Saminaka, in the same local government: Bingel Odi, Isa Joda.”
In a statement, SOKAPU said the killings in Gona Gan village will register as one of other attacks on the Atyap Chiefdom after a much celebrated and publicised peace accord was reached between Atyap natives and their long time settled Hausa/Fulani communities in August this year.
Luka Binniyat, SOKAPU’s spokesman said in his statement, “It could be recalled the on 15th November, 2020, the District Head of Ma’Zaki, in Atyap Chiefdom, Mr Haruna Kuye, was murdered along with his 9-year-old son, Destiny Haruna, while his wife and daughter survived with severe injuries inflicted on them.
“On Thursday, 17th December, 2020, armed men paired on four motor bikes stormed Kujeni Tudu in Kajuru LGA of Kaduna state and attacked the Adara village, killing an elderly man, Bala Umaru, 75 and looted the village. In the pandemonium that ensued 4 persons are still missing up to the time of writing this statement. They are: Dada Bulus, 55, Peter Tanko, 43, Buba Yakubu 51 and Emma Dauda, 38.
“This means that in one day eight Southern Kaduna natives were killed in a genocidal campaign against our people by armed militia who every surviving victim of the violence always identifies as Fulani.
“Information reaching SOKAPU says that four of the Gora Gan invaders were killed by troops of Operation Safe Haven who came for rescue and that some carry identity cards showing where they come from. But, that we cannot confirm this as their corpses were not displayed.
“If the above assertion is true, then the government should have no reason not to use this information for a holistic investigation on the fleeing murderers and unravel those behind them and their motives.
“Part of Chikun LGA of Kaduna State bordering Niger sate have been sacked and are now IDPs in many communities with their kinsmen in Niger state.
“The primary reason why a government is formed is to protect lives and property. Any other reason is secondary. On this, Kaduna state and the Federal government has failed in this regard as scores of Southern Kaduna communities have been sacked and most of them occupied by the invaders after killing several and destroying communities.
He called on the communities, humanitarian organizations, the United National, relevant local and International non-governmental organisations, and others to pile pressure on the government to take the issue of security and safety of the residents of Kaduna state more seriously.
Meanwhile, Governor Nasir El-Rufai condemned the renewed counter killings sending condolences to the families that lost their loved and wished those recuperating speedy recovery.
Aruwan said el Rufai described the renewed killing and counter killing of innocent citizens of Atyap and Fulani ethnicity as unfortunate.
“He decried the resort to violence, noting that it is not a solution to grievances and disputes, but a tragic way to escalate matters and drag people into more pains and misery. The governor directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide relief materials to the affected families with immediate effect”, Aruwan added.