“When on the 31st of January 2013, armed bandits attacked Birnin Gwari town, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero of Kaduna abandoned all official engagements for the day and rushed to Birnin Gwari for a spot assessment of the situation and promised more security measures to curtail the attacks. While on Saturday, 23rd February 2013, armed Fulani herdsmen killed five persons in Aduwan Gida village in Zangon Kataf L.G.A. When Ramalan Yero got the information, he packed his bag and left for Abuja on the premise of having to attend a “very important” meeting.” states the National President Southern Kaduna Progressive Youth Movement, Caleb Samuel Abbott a press statement dated February 25, 2013.
The group charged Governor Yero of hatred for the people of Southern Kaduna following he display of insensitivity towards the gruesome murder of their kinsmen by suspected Jihadists operating within their immediate region.
“We are appalled that the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Aminu Lawal sarcastically said only 3 persons were attacked.” Stated the release statement which point to the PPRO’s remark as false and contradictory to the statement made by the the District Head of Aduwan, Mr. Yariyock Kabantiyock.
“For treating us as lesser beings and second class citizens, Mukhtar Yero has shown true hatred for the people of Southern Kaduna, who expected him to at least if not for anything grief with them in their moments of pain, anguish and trial. Rather, he asked his loquacious media man, Ahmed Maiyaki to issue a statement urging our people to remain calm and go about their normal businesses as government had taken steps to forestall any break-down of law and order.
Why didn’t he issue a statement calling for calm during the attack in Birnin Gwari, but decided to shelve other “very important” meetings and raced to Birnin Gwari to condole the families of those who lost loved ones?”
The group raised questions concerning how residents of the community can go about their normal businesses in such an atmosphere – with what guarantee that the killings will not continue unabated?
“Since December 16th 2012, the people of Southern Kaduna have lived in fear, anxiety and uncertainty; but we have resolved not to give in to self-doubt and prejudice or allow ourselves to be intimidated. Let it be known that our confidence as a people has grown in leaps and bounds.”
