Southern Kaduna Genocide: Press Conference By Southern Kaduna Coalition Of NGOs

TEXT OF A WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE BY SOUTHERN KADUNA COALITION OF NGOs.

This World Press Conference has been called by a coalition of Non- Governmental Organizations (NGOs) of Southern Kaduna, in Kaduna State of Nigeria, to draw the attention of the world to our plight as a people who have been under systematic and premeditated attacks with the singular aim of decimating and liquidating the Southern Kaduna people, in order to take over our God-given ancestral lands and natural resources.

While we note that since the early 1980s there have been sporadic attacks on the peoples of Southern Kaduna, the present state of generalized warfare and genocidal attacks intensified from 2011 following the presidential elections that engulfed about 10 northern states.

The main characteristic of the on-going assaults on our communities is that they are carefully planned, organised and executed with heartless viciousness and on an incremental basis. Between 2011 and 2014, over a period of just 4 years, 39 such terrorist attacks have been launched against our hospitable, accommodating,  peaceful and law abiding communities by terrorists.  These planned, systematic and coordinated attacks have claimed the lives of over 4,000 innocent Southern Kaduna people, bona fide citizens of Nigeria.

In most of the affected communities, women and children have been killed and brutally murdered in a most barbaric manner. While in some cases they were hacked to death, in others they were burnt alive and or blown up with explosives.

These attacks have rendered thousands of our people homeless, as their homes have been burnt, their churches destroyed and their food stores, barns and granaries burnt. What is even more, their water sources have also been polluted.

From the over 53 attacks, the most prominent are in Attakar Chiefdom of Kaura Local Government where over 200 people have been killed and 4,000 displaced. Countless farmlands have been destroyed, and schools and churches completely burnt down. The  attacks were in the five Villages of Me Gatah, Me Sankwai, Tekum, Me Kakpang, and Me Kurah in Moro’a  Chiefdom, Kaura Local Government Area, where whole families have been wiped out, 148 people massacred in their sleep, 240 houses destroyed,  all the food stocks of the communities burnt, and survivors rendered destitute and homeless. As if that was not enough, between 23rd and 24th of June 2014,  terrorists attacked, killed and burnt over 500 people in Kobin, Fadan Karshi, Ungwan Ganye,  amongst several other villages in Sanga Local Government, and just recently, on 17th September 2014, over 50 people were massacred in the same manner in their sleep at Karshin Daji in Sanga Local Government.  The attackers have moved swiftly from using sticks, machetes, cudgels, and dane guns,  to the use of sophisticated rifles, RPGs, machine guns and explosives.

The Southern Kaduna peoples have at different fora and occasions cried out to both Federal and State governments for protection, petitioned the government and security agencies, participated in peace and reconciliation meetings and other numerous peace initiatives with a view to bringing an end to this wicked agenda aimed at wiping out the people of Southern Kaduna and indeed the people of the Middle Belt as a whole, all to no avail.

Indeed, the more efforts our people have made towards ending this bloodshed, the more ferocious and frequent the attacks have become.

These attacks have occurred despite the presence of security forces in the area.

The response of government to the killings has been rather very lackadaisical and merely palliative, without any concrete efforts or measures to forestall future attacks and or apprehend the attackers and bring them to justice. While Government is always quick to state that they are doing their best to handle the security situation, their best has been to tell people to calm down, that the security agencies are in control of the situation and thereafter send a few items of relief.

In short, Government has, in our view, taken adequate steps or action that would stop the killings, identify the attackers and bring them to book. It is on record that, even in situations where the communities have captured the perpetrators red-handed, while in the act of terrorizing our communities and handed them over to the security forces, none has been prosecuted in court to serve as a deterrence.

The question the people of Southern Kaduna would like the Government  to answer is: given the primary constitutional responsibility of government which is to protect the lives and property of its citizens, does it mean that our security situation is not sufficiently grave for government to find solution to this all important problem?

While we await an answer to the above question, we would also like to bring to  our Governor’s attention the fact that the Southern Kaduna people are waiting and watching with baited breath to see what the efforts and response of His Excellency the Governor of  kaduna are to the unnecessary loss of life of innocent Southern Kaduna people.

The Southern Kaduna people are tired of petitioning, protesting, demonstrating and appealing to Federal, State governments and security agencies over the systematic and programmed genocide that is being perpetrated against them. It cannot be too strongly stated that it is the constitutional responsibility of the Federal and State Governments to safeguard the lives and properties of its citizens including those of Southern Kaduna. Given the prevailing situation of insecurity in Southern Kaduna, unless the Federal and State Governments take immediate and practical steps to ensure that the Sanga massacre is the last act of genocide against the people of Southern Kaduna, the people will be left with no option but to conclude that the government has abandoned the Southern Kaduna people to their own devices for their security.

Signed:

Zwahu Bonnat.

Southern Kaduna Development Associations Forum

Sabastine Luka.

SOKAPU Youth Wing

Jerry Adams.

Gurara Forum

Linda Gbise

CEDRA NG

Danjuma Peter.

Southern Kaduna Farmers Forum

Francis Kozah Esq.

Southern Kaduna Lawyers’ Forum

Jonah Kyom

Southern Kaduna Youth and Students Forum (SKYSFORM)

Ndi Mannaseh Grace.

FROM COMMUNAL CONFLICTS TO EXTERMINATION ATTACKS AGAINST THE SOUTHERN KADUNA PEOPLE, 1981 – 2014

1. KasuwanMagani in Kajuru LGA, 1980, when Hausa traders tried to take over Adara land, claiming that the land belonged to them.

2. Yarkasuwa, then in Lere District in 1986, during the contest for the district headship of Lere, when the Kurama were blamed for the crisis caused by the power mongers there, who were opposed to the candidature of a prominent Bakurmi Muslim, who “dared’ to contest for the District Head’s office reserved for the Hausa Fulani of Lere town.
3. Kafanchan in 1987, when the Muslim Students Society attacked students of the College of Education. This spread to Zaria, Kaduna, Katsina, etc, where churches were burnt, people killed, property destroyed.
4. ABU, Zaria in 1988, when Muslim students attacked Christians over victory of Christian student in the students’ union elections. About 107 students were injured, some seriously, whereupon some persons from Zaria City waylaid students travelling home after the university had been closed and killed some of them at Gwargwaji.
5. ZangonKataf in 1992, when People attending market were attacked by ZangonKataf residents opposed to the relocation of the market from the street to a new site across the road.
6. ZangonKataf in August 1992, described as subsequent riots to the market, when residents of ZangonKataf and Katafs clashed over control of the market.
7. 1999, ethno religious attacks against Southern Kaduna and other Christians in Kaduna North LGA, and reverberations inKafanchan and environs.
8. 2000, Sharia riots, when the KDHA arbitrarily proceeded to debate imposition of Sharia in Kaduna State. The riots were in Kaduna, Zaria, Kano, Katsinaetc, where Southern Kaduna people were killed, beaten, matcheted, etc.
9. 2000, at the Federal College of Education, Zaria, when Christian students were attacked and killed and injured, and the Catholic Church burnt by Muslim students in the College.
10. 2001, ethnic cleansing to move non-Muslims from Kaduna North LGA, after the failure of attempts to impose sharia on Kaduna State.
11. 2002, BirninGwari, when a woman was killed, and they alleged that the killer was wearing a fez cap; one Kataf man who had been away at Zaria when the incident occurred, retrned to BirninGwar and was killed, several other “Katafs” i.e Southern Kaduna people were killed, their houses and property burnt.
12. 2002, FCE Zaria, when violent Muslim youth from Tudun Wada, attacked the girls

hostel at night, killed, maimed, injured, raped and          traumatized the female students.

3. 2002, when violent Muslim protesters attacked Christians under the cover of opposition to Miss World Pageant.

4. 2006, violent attack and killings of Christian students at the FCE, Zaria by

Muslims from Tudun Wada and Zaria City.

5. 2009 crisis in Piti District of Piriga Chiefdom in Lere LGA, over the appointment of district head, leading to police harassment and detention of officials of Piti National Development Association, when powerful forces in Lere and Kaduna wanted a Muslim as theDistrict Head.
6. 2010, at Kidache area in Chawai Chiefdom, when cattle herders attacked the area in apparent retaliation of the killing of their clansmen in neighbouring Plateau, and killed nine local Chawai people.
7. 2011 post election attacks on Southern Kaduna and other Christians in Zaria, Kaduna, Zonkwa and Kafanchan, following incendiary comments and incitement by political party leaders during the 2011 presidential election. This crisis was planned and unleashed as a political uprising in ten northern States, but when they started in Zaria and Kaduna, churches and houses were burnt, the Kafanchan market was burnt, pastors and other innocent persons were killed, injured and rendered homeless, generating a reaction for self defence, for which the Southern Kaduna people have been castigated, vilified, attacked, grievously injured and killed in a systematic campaign of guerilla night attacks by Fulanis and their allies.
8. April 20, 2011, at Anchuna, Ikulu Chiefdom, ZangonKataf LGA, when Fulani set ablaze the garden surrounding the Reverend Father’s Compound, when they were sighted and chased away, and the fire brought under control.
9. August, 2011, Fulani attacked Gwong communities of AngwanYaro and Yuli in Kussom District of Gwong Chiefdom, Jema’a LGA, for two days, and the villagers mounted a defence, captured some of the attackers with their guns and ammunition, handed them over to the military, who handed them to the police, who promptly released them.
10. August, 2011, at AngwanRana, Bitaro District, Jaba LGA, when Fulanis operating from Kagarko LGA attacked the community, killed several and seriously injured many others. To date, no arrests have been made, even when their route could and was clearly traced.
11. August 21, 2011, when Fulani attacked FadiaBakut, near Zonkwa, killed several people, and severely wounded others.
12. November 4, 2011, at Tabak, Bajju Chiefdom, ZangonKataf LGA, when women observing a night vigil at the local church, were attacked, three were instantly killed, many badly wounded.
13. September 2, 2011, during the Sallah celebration at Kafanchan, when a Sallah procession was allowed to take place under heavy police and military guard, and the celebrants-in-procession carried and waved different weapons, including machetes, knives, swords, cutlasses and other dangerous instruments of war. Under police and military protection, the participants in the procession hurled insults at the indigenous people; “Masukasa sun iso; Arnasaisubadawuri”, which roughly translates: the Owners of the land have arrived; the pagans have to give way. They drove their motor cycles wildly, knocked down and killed two Arna women. The youths reacted, mounted barricades to potect their communities. Late in the evening of that day, after they completed their guard duty over the procession, the army JTF launched attacks on houses at Adauwan, Federation, and the houses near the new market, breaking down doors, dragging out youths, hammered them with gun butts, beat and brutalized them.
14. September 3, 2011, when the mothers of the youths protested by wearing black clothes and to go protest to the Local Government Chairman, some of our pastors, intervened and upstaged the peaceful demonstration; the Men of God sabotaged the women, claiming that “CAN” would organize a “better” protest, which never came.
15. November 5 and 6, 2011, continued attacks on Fadia, FadanKaje, Kurmin Bi, in Bajju Chiefdom, ZangonKataf LGA.
16. November 8, 2011, when in AngwarMasara in Kafanchan, the village head, MalamBulusAdamu with his wife, LadiAdamu, in spite of curfew, was killed by unknown gunmen.
17. November 9, 2011, at Kafanchan, reactions over continued attacks on villages in Kafanchan in Jema’a and in ZangonKataf LGA.
18. December 11, 2011, at KukumDaji, Kagoro Chiefdom, Kaura LGA, when Fulani attacked the village, killed the wife of the Ward head, and almost killed the Ward Head and a neighbour.
19. December, 2011, various dates, when guinea corn farms of four farmers in DutsenBako District, and others in Anchuna District, Ikulu Chiefdom, were completely burnt, leading to serious losses of food and investment in these areas.
20. December 20, 2011 at FadanDaji, Kagoro Chiefdom, when five people were killed, and sixth person died in the hospital from gunshot wounds, when Fulani attacked the Village.
21. January 1st 2012, at Zunuruk, in Garaje District of Kagoro Chiefdom, Kaura LGA, when four people were critically injured.
22. 13th February, 2012, when attackers seriously injured three people at Adan village in Agban District of Kagoro Chiefdom, Kaura LGA.
23. February 17, 2012, gun attack at Zonkwa, when two students were killed, one Kurama (male), and the other Gbagyi (female).
24. February 26th, 2012, at Adan Village, of Kagoro Chiefdom, Kaura LGA, when one person was injured and two killed by people shooting from a car.
25. February 26th 2012, at Kahugu, Piriga Chiefdom in Lere LGA, when gunmen attacked meat sellers and shop keepers, leading to the death of six persons.
26. March 16, 2012, three villages in Chikun LGA were attacked, killing 10 people, including a pastor, injuring several others, burning houses and property.
27. March 20, 2012, an Attakar man killed and dismembered on the Ziliang hills, in Takkad chiefdom of Kaura LGA.
28. May 2012, attempts to steal Attakar-owned cattle foiled by the community
29. November 15, 2012, at Madauchi, Zonkwa, when an entire family of 7 was killed and their corpses burnt, just a kilometer away from a heavily armed military checkpoint.
30. February 7, 2013, Aduwan village, Bajju chiefdom, attacked and five people were killed, several injured.
31. March 1, 2013, Boko Haram attacked Government Secondary School,FadanKaje.
32. May 23, 2013, another attack was launched on Bujju Chiefdom at Aduwan.
33. March 30, 2013, Attacks on several Takkad villages, leading to death of 28 people, burning of 200 houses and displacement of 4000 persons.
34. April 1, 2013, Attack on Zilang and Mafan villages of Takkad, killing 48 people, (25 women, 13 children and 7 men) injuring many others, destroying all houses and food supplies.
35. May 14, 2013, Zangang village attacked by over 100 invaders, killing 15 people and burning the houses of the village.
36. May 23, 2013, Zonkwa attacked at night, leading to fighting and repelling of the attackers.
37. July 21, 2013, FadanKaje village attacked, and fierce fighting took place throughout the nightbetween the indigene and the attackers, leading to death of some of the attackers.
38. August 20, 2013, Kajuru Police station attacked by terrorists, leading to the death of several policemen, and a hunt for the killers by members of the community; leading to arrests of the Adara youth and crisis in the area.
39. September 2, 2013, Adu village of Takkad chiefdom attacked, and 11 people were killed and several more injured.
40. February 5, 2014, at Manchok, Moroa Chiefdom, Fulani shot and slaughtered a family of 7 people, whereupon youth in the area chased out all Fulani cattle from the area.
41. March 14, 2014, five communities attacked by a large army of Fulani, killing 148 people, burning about 300 houses, burning harvested crops, blowing up churches and any prominent houses.
42. March 20 – 22, 2014, running battles between Fulani and Moroa youth at Bondon, where one person was killed and the Fulani driven out of the area.
43. April 3rd, an attempt by the Fulanis to invade Bondon village at night was repelled by heavy gunfighting and they retreated.
44. 23rd -24th June, massive killings and burning in Fada Karshi, Kobin, kasuwan Ganye etc., in Sanga Local Government, over 500 people killed, 400 houses burnt and over 2000 people displaced.
45. 17th September 2014, over 40 people killed including children in their sleep Karshin Daji and Fadan Karshi in Sanga Local Government.