A PRESS STATEMENT BY AWEMI DIO MAISAMARI, NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF ADARA DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (ADA) ON THE CONTINUOUS INSECURITY IN ADARA COMMUNITY DATED 4th AUGUST, 2019
Gentlemen of the press
I am once again constrained to raise an alarm over the continuing insecurity being faced by Adara community especially in Kajuru LGA of Kaduna State. On Wednesday, 31st July 2019, villagers in the area saw some strange armed Fulani people. When they were questioned, they assured the locals that they did not mean any harm to them. Their number later increased thereby making people in the area to panic in anticipation of an imminent attack. The terrorists eventually stroked at Maikori area of Ungwan Gamo village on Thursday, 1st August, 2019. During the attack, one person was killed and two others were seriously wounded. The casualties were limited because the people were not caught unawares as in previous cases. The attack, coming after several weeks break in the hostilities clearly shows that the attackers have all along being looking for opportunities to strike again. This has once again heightened the fear, tension and suspicion in the community thereby disrupting farming and other economic activities that have been recovering very slowly.
In addition to the above attack, cases of kidnapping for ransom have also made a comeback. Some of the recent incidences all within one month include the following:
1. The Kaduna-Kachia highway kidnap operation near Idon on 10th July, 2019 in which some travelers were killed and several others abducted.
2. The kidnapping of two young girls aged about 15years each at Dutsen Gaiya on 15th July, 2019. The two have returned after the payment or heavy ransom.
3. The kidnapping of the daughter of a Baptist Reverend aged about 13years on 26th July, 2019 at Dutsen Gaiya. Presently, the Pastor’s daughter is still in the kidnappers den because of inability to pay the ransom.
4. The highway kidnaps of motorists at a police check point at Maraban Kajuru on 21st July, 2019 in which several people were abducted.
5. The attempted kidnap on Wednesday, 31st July, 2019 of the Reverend Father of St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Kasuwan Magani in which a security guard was killed.
It is most alarming that these incidents are occurring regardless of the security presence in the community. Remote places like Maikori area of Ungwan Gamo village do not even have any security presence and so are completely at the mercy of the marauding Fulani terrorists. Surprisingly, even in places where security presence is close bye, the terrorists still carry out their operations without any hindrance from near bye security personnel. For instance, the highway kidnap operation at Maraban Kajuru was done at a police check point. The kidnappers simply waited for the policemen to finish their shift which always ends by about 6pm before taking over the check point to do their own shift from about 7.30pm and beyond. I wonder why the numerous police check points are restricted to day time duty when there is relative security while the check points are deserted by night time when people are more vulnerable. Also during the Kasuwan Magani attempted abduction of the Reverend Father, the kidnappers were shooting to the hearing of several police and military personnel stationed in several places a few hundred meters away. And yet, none of the teams of security men confronted the criminals. It was only the brave challenge by the local community that forced the kidnappers to abandon their operation and flee for their lives. It is shocking that millions of Naira meant for the development of the community are being diverted in the name of security while the security itself is not serving the needs of the people. Worse still, the police check points in the community have all been turned to toll gates where the already traumatized people of the community and passers bye are regularly subjected to multiple extortions.
It is so unreasonable, even wicked that in the midst of all these, the only preoccupation of the local and state authorities in Kajuru Local Government is the immediate reopening and even reconstruction of the volatile Kasuwan Magani market. The same authorities are not even interested in finding out why those who intentionally looted and burnt down the market (in addition to several other unspeakable crimes) are the very same people who are now clamoring for its reopening and reconstruction. Neither have they done anything what so ever (even interim measures), to ensure there is no repeat of the barbarity and destruction which some people are using to terrorize Adara community. It is a shame that such medieval tactics are still being used by some sacred cows as the evidence of their depraved “superiority” and ironically condoned by so called civil authorities in the 21st century who cannot bear mere criticism. These so called authorities must take note that Adara people cannot be deceived by Greek gifts meant to divert the attention of the community from its main problems as already identified and prioritized by Adara nation.
For the avoidance of any doubt, Adara nation emphatically declares that its fundamental problems are:
1. The institutionalized social injustice being inflicted on its people for so many years which has relegated them to a disadvantaged position.
2. The artificially induced and condoned insecurity taking a heavy toll on the material wellbeing of our impoverished community and threatening the lives and existence of innocent and peaceful citizens and even Adara society as a whole.
3. The brazen attempt to crush and destroy Adara Chiefdom and its identity, culture, local autonomy and self determination by administrative and physical means so as to enable non-Adara people to subdue and completely take control of Adara land.
Finally, any authority wishing to carry out any major project or activity in Adara land must first of all address the above life threatening problems. Our people must be convinced that the project or activity will sincerely, fairly and equitably accommodate the views, interests, concerns and fears of the majority before they can give their blessing. For a start, the community invites the local and state authorities to engage community leaders and convince them of how the proposed multi-billion Naira market at Kasuwan Magani is sensitive enough to the above concerns. Otherwise, their actions will be regarded as yet another instance of the age old social injustice being complained about. Secondly, because of the unhelpful presence of security personnel highlighted above, the community is ready to partner local, state and security authorities in addressing the lingering security challenges on agreeable terms. Thirdly, the easiest thing the authorities can do to partly reclaim their credibility and douse the ever rising tension in Adara land is to reverse the scrapping of Adara Chiefdom. If government refuses to take these easy first steps towards addressing the three fundamental concerns of Adara nation, it will be logical to conclude that it does not yet want genuine peace in Adara land. That will make the security presence in our community to be mere window dressing and the move to reopen or reconstruct the Kasuwan Magani market an act of provocation. We pray that higher wisdom will guide any attempts to address the legitimate fears and concerns of our people.
Thank you.
