Vigilance from youths prevented what could have been a bloodbath in Zangon, one of the communities in Southern Kaduna on Thursday.
President of the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU), Dr. Solomon Asake, stated this yesterday while lamenting continued killings in the volatile area.
He said that the gunmen that have been killing and kidnapping people in the area attempted to invade Zangon but the youths mobilised and resisted the incursion.
However, he said that the bandits invaded many other villages on Thursday.
“We don’t know what is going on. I know communities were attacked in different villages in southern Kaduna. They attempted to attack Zangon again, but they were repelled by the youths from the community. We are worried the attacks have not stopped and that is what we have been talking about every time. We hear different narratives and the governor justified why the attack must continue instead of finding solution to the problem,” Asake said.
Earlier, SOKAPU said that eight persons were killed and several houses burnt in Zangon Kataf, Kajuru and Kachia LGAs by gunmen between Monday and Wednesday.
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In a Wednesday statement signed by its spokesperson, Luka Binniyat, the group said, “Yesterday armed militia invaded Unguwan Gankon village in Gora ward, Zangon Kataf LGA, killed two persons and burnt 7 houses. Neighbours however came to the rescue and the murderers fled. The name of the victim are Kefas Malachy Bobai, a 30 year old farmer and father of three and Miss Takama Paul, 16, a student. Though troops arrived a bit late after the killers escaped, their prompt response was very commendable, as it was in variance with the past.
“The previous day, August 17, Mr. Bulus Joseph, 48, father of nine was murdered gruesomely on his farm at Sabon Gida Idon along Kaduna – Kachia road, in Kajuru LGA, by armed Fulani militia.
“He stood up to the killers so that his wife and 3 children could escape, which they did. But he paid the price with his life as he was butchered by the cold blooded murderers. The picture of his corpse is too horrid to be made public.
“On August 16, Pastor Adalchi Usman, 39 and father of two was murdered. Pastor Usman, who was pastor of ECWA Church, Unguwan /Madaki, Maro ward, in Kajuru LGA in southern part of Kaduna was ambushed while in a commercial vehicle he had boarded with three others.
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“The killers came from the bush and just started shooting at the car. Also killed were, Mariah Na’Allah of Unguwan Madaki; Shekari from Unguwa Ali – a native of Anchuna village, Zangon Kataf LGA and Ezekiel Maikasa a native of Gadanaji in Kajuru LGA. The driver of the vehicle, Danlami Dariya was abducted and at the time of releasing this statement his whereabouts was still unknown.
“Then on the same night of August 16, Bugai village near Banikanwa in Kachia LGA was attacked by armed Fulani militia. The village Head, Dan’azumi Musa, 67 was killed. His siblings, Aniya Musa, 60, including his aged mother, Kande Musa, 97 and younger sister Angelina Irmiya, 45 were killed. Four members of a family wiped out. Part of the villages was burnt after the attackers looted the village. This is to further show that the siege on Southern Kaduna Communities is still ongoing. The genocide is still much on.”
Governor Nasir el-Rufai has been severely criticised for allegedly not doing enough to end the killings.
On Thursday, his invitation to speak at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference was withdrawn following outrage over his handling of the Southern Kaduna crisis.
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