Zangon-Kataf Violence: Miyyati Allah cautions SOKAPU 

The perennial communal crisis in Atyap Chiefdom of Zangon Kataf Local Government, Kaduna State between the Atyap people and Fulani herdsmen have taken a new dimension, with accusations and counter-accusations of killing from both sides.

A statement by Chairman, Kaduna State chapter, Miyyati Allah  Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Haruna Usman Tugga accused Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) of killing defenceless Fulani herdsmen and members of their families.

Miyyatti said  SOKAPU resorted to total blackmail against Fulani people whose households were completely burnt, who scampered to safety and left behind all possessions, and still accused them of perpetuating violence.However,  SOKAPU in a similar statement through its Spokesman, Luka Binniyat accued Fulani of killing their people of Atyap extraction, burning down houses and churches.

Miyyatti said,  “We are all aware, violent conflicts have been ongoing in many of the villages in Atyap Chiefdom of Zangon Kataf Local Government. Based on the information available to our Association, the trigger for the present round of disturbances emanated from the attack on a family by unknown bandits in Gora Gan village of the Chiefdom on 7th July 2021.

“As is characteristic of the misinformed youths who are indoctrinated to hate the Fulani pastoralists, attack on cattle rearers followed the unfortunate event. While security agencies moved swiftly to contain the violence around Gora Gan and adjoining villages, there was mobilization of Atyap youths by some ethnic chauvinists among the Atyap ethnic community and other non-peace loving organizations that resulted in attacks on Fulani settlements throughout the Chiefdom. Within a few days, all the houses of the Fulani in the Chiefdom were burnt by mobs in broad daylight.

“In addition to the burning of settlements, an unconfirmed number of Fulani pastoralists were also killed. As a consequence, the surviving victims of the arson are now internally displaced and scattered around in neigbouring Local Governments of Kaura, Kauru, Lere, Jema’a and Kachia. Due to the nature of attacks and displacement of the Fulani people, we are yet to ascertain the total number of people killed, even though there are confirmed reports of the killing of 16 persons, mostly women and children. Over 300 houses belonging to the Fulani are reportedly burnt to ashes in the different villages for the Chiefdom.

“Not only our people and houses targeted, but cattle belonging to the Fulani also were not spared. There are reports of the killing of many cows, the numbers of which are yet to be determined because of the tense security situation in the area. Additionally, thousands of cows were abandoned by the fleeing cattle owners, which exposed the animals to threats of rustling.“Unsubstantiated information available to us indicated that several groups of cattle rustlers have already invaded the areas to rustle the remaining cows, with reports of occasional clashes between the cattle rustling gangs.“This is the situation at the moment in those affected areas. The Fulani pastoralists are at disarray, at the mercy of God, with no support from any quarters.

Their means of livelihoods and habitation has been totally destroyed.“It is against this background that we found a Press Statement issued by the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) most surprising. We are shocked on the sources of their information, and for retorting to total blackmail against the victims of aggression. People whose households were completely burnt, who scampered to safety leaving behind all possessions could be accused of perpetuating violence.

“We urge media organizations and the general public to ignore the usual provocative and insensitive statements coming out from SOKAPU and other affiliated groups. We appeal to Media organizations to be impartial and to listen to all sides, visit the scenes across the divides and speak to people on all sides to provide Nigerians with accurate accounts of what is happening in the affected areas.“What is most needed at this stage from SOKAPU and all other stakeholders is partnership and cooperation that will lead to durable peace and social harmony.

There is need for collective action to deal with the challenges of insecurity, which also require strategic cooperation with the governments, traditional leaders and security establishments at all levels.“We wish to clearly state that the Fulani pastoralists are equal victims of the atrocities of bandits who spare nobody. They are constantly rustling cows, kidnapping pastoralists and killing whenever they failed to pay ransoms as demanded by the bandits.

Attacks on communities by bandits have nothing to do with Fulani pastoralists.“We are using this platform to call on all the misguided youths across the divides, but particularly of the Atyap ethnic group to refrain from taking unilateral and violent actions by attacking Fulani pastoralists following every breach of security. Indeed, security agencies and other constituted authorities should be allowed to investigate every criminal action and attack on individuals and communities.

We have seen how many of such investigations in the past found out that criminals within the same ethnic group were responsible for the crimes earlier thought to have been committed by Fulani pastoralists.“We are appealing to the State and Local Government, the traditional leaders and all peace loving citizens in the State to initiate interventions that will restore the areas to the path of peace. Lot of social re-orientation programmes are needed to change the negative mindset of the youths in the areas.

“Organisations and individuals promoting hate speech, inciting the public, mobilizing youths towards violence and provide any form of support towards violence are strongly urged to stop that. The security agencies need to act fast to stop these organizations and individuals for durable peace and stability to be attained not only in Atyap Chiefdom, but the entire State.“We are appealing to the Kaduna State Government as a matter of urgency to come over in to assist the victims of violence.

They are living in very precarious situations and need humanitarian assistance especially food and shelter in the midst of the heavy rains.“We are also appealing on the Government and security agencies, particularly Operation Safe Haven to assist in rescuing rustled cows of the pastoralists and evacuate others still trapped in many Atyap villages. Our organization is most willing to provide support in this process, especially in identifying the owners of the recovered animals.

We are as well appreciating the security agencies efforts and rapid response during the incidences especially the military outfit of “OPERATION SAFE HEAVEN” for their untiring efforts in curbing the insecurity challenges in the area.“We are commiserating with the families of those that their houses and properties were destroyed. In these sad times, we are appealing to them to be calm and to exercise maximum restrains.

We assure them that our Association with explore means of ensuring justice for the wrongs done to them as provided for in the Laws and Constitution of the country”.But SOKAPU insisted that,  “For the 7th  day running,  nightly siege on Atyap Community has continued  with the death toll, number of churches and homes burnt rising.

“On 13th July, 2021, two persons were killed as armed Fulani herdsmen invaded Magata and Magori villages in Atyap Chiefdom, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area (LGA) in Southern Kaduna. The father and son were killed in Magata where the assailants also burnt 8 homes and the Catholic church in the village. The attackers then moved to the next village, Magori, but met a deserted place.“They took their time, looted the village and loaded their bounty into the five Hilux vans they were driving in and burnt down all the 19 houses in the small village. The attackers then returned to Makarau that was attacked on Monday and burnt down the ECWA and Anglican Churches whose two pastoruims were burnt in last Monday afternoon attacks.

“Our members of the Amawa ethnic nationalities who settled in an Atyap community called Badawa, a remote farming community close to the banks of River Kaduna, under Gora ward,  have reported that 5 of their kinsmen were killed and 12 homes, and 45 cows rustled  on the 11th July, 2021 after they were attacked by armed herdsmen.“This brings to 40 the number of persons killed,  254 homes and 7 churches burnt in an unbroken and unrestrained violence unleashed on poor, armless innocent farmers in Atyap Chiefdom by armed herdsmen in the past 7 days. We have received information that the attackers are bragging that Atyap land and the entire southern Kaduna belongs to them and as such if our members would not leave, they would use terror and chase them out.

“Currently, 108 Southern Kaduna Communities are under the occupation of armed herdsmen invaders some dating back to 2019.“Another dimension to the wickedness on Atyap land is that in every community attacked, the invaders took time to cut down swaths of fields of growing crops. The intention is to see that survivors starve if they ever return.“Women, children, the aged and infirmed are now moving out  in droves in Atyap villages, some on foot carrying what they can salvage to wherever they may find refuge”.