The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kaduna killings

  • Kaduna killings: El-Rufai visits Kajuru, begs against reprisal

    Following the Monday morning Killings at Banono and Ungwan Akut, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state on Wednesday, visited the troubled Kajuru local government area, urging all communities in the state to reject an eye for an eye stance in resolving differences.

    Addressing the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at their camp in Maraban Kajuru, the governor said that an attitude of attacks and reprisals only produces pain and suffering, noting that he has directed relevant agencies to reassess the condition of the IDPs who are from different communities to enable them return to their communities soon.

    Speaking in Maraban Kajuru, Kajuru local government after meeting with the IDPs, El-Rufai said that he was saddened by the situation. “What we saw is unfortunate, but we must speak out and tell our people the right thing to be done. An eye for eye is not a solution to the vicious cycles of killings and will complicate and undermine collective efforts.

    “Our admonition, is simple. If Fulani or Adara communities have complaints of killings or attacks, they should report and allow security agencies and government to take up the administration of justice. If these communities resort to taking the laws into their own hands, it will not work. That  is not the solution.”

    Read also: Police confirm killing of 21, rustling of 50 cows in Kajuru Attack

    According to the Governor, “all communities must resist the temptation to take the law into their own hands. Security personnel and assets cannot be in every inch of our state. Communities must stop this abnormality of taking the laws into their own hands. It has never worked and will never work.”

    Continue on Page 2

  • Mass protest in Birnin-Gwari over killings

    Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu have visited Kakangi village in Birnin-Gwari local government area where several people, including two policemen were killed some 48 hours ago.
     
    Their visit coincided with massive protests by over 200 indigines of Birnin Gwari over incessant killings and unabated kidnapping in the area.
     
    Five people, including two policemen, were killed by the armed bandits in the attack on Kakangi community on Saturday.
    The bandits who invaded the village on a motorbike also razed houses and the community’s market.

    Read also: Police kill three bandits in fresh Kaduna village attack

     
    The protesters stormed the streets, chanting killings and kidnapping in the area must be brought to an end.
    Some of the placards carried by the protesters read: “we want peace, stop killings of innocent people of Birnin Gwari“, “Mr. President, we need your special intervention“, “stop the killings, El-Rufai respond” among others.
    The IGP later met with the Emir of Birnin-Gwari, Alhaji Zubair Jibril Maigwari and elders of Birnin-Gwari.
    The Acting Inspector General visited the area to personally access the security situation and meet the stakeholders in the area.
     El-Rufai went to Kakangi village, which was attacked on Saturday.
    Accompanied on the tour of the scene by some government officials and security heads, El-Rufai described the attack as inhuman and ungodly.
    The Governor assured the residents of his government’s commitment to restoring peace and security to the area and other troubled parts of the state.
    The governor also visited those injured during the attack at the hospital to commiserate with them over the unfortunate incident.

  • Kaduna killings: coalition protests in Abuja

    Hundreds of indigenes of Kaduna State gathered in Abuja last week for a peaceful procession to bring to the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari and the international community what they called the horrendous attacks by herdsmen militia on many Adara communities in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

    Convener, Coalition Against Kajuru Killings, Rev. Fr Williams Abba said, “The latest death toll of this mindless carnage has already surpassed 130, with several communities reduced to rubbles, and setting the stage for a major humanitarian crisis that has so far displaced no fewer than 10,000 persons now living in four camps.”

    Dressed in black and displaying various inscriptions like “stop the Kajuru massacre now,” “why kill children?”, “Southern Kaduna needs freedom”, “end the bloodshed”, “Sanga lives matter”, “where is your humanity?” and “enough of the killings in southern Kaduna”.

    Addressing the crowd Rev. Fr Williams Abba said: “This peaceful procession today reveals our commitment to the restoration of peace in not only Adara communities, but other areas of Southern Kaduna and indeed Birnin Gwari now under siege by these criminal elements. We call on fellow Nigerians and the international community to mount pressure on the Nigerian government to come to our aid by ending the genocide that is rippling across Adara communities and other areas of Southern Kaduna where there is a resurgence of violence, such as Gerti and Sanga where no fewer than 12 persons have been killed by these rampaging herdsmen. Most disturbingly is the fact that while Adara Nation mourns, Governor El-Rufai rounded up and put in jail Adara leaders and elder statesmen, including the Waziri Adara who’s next in the line of seniority in Adara chiefdom on phantom charges.”

    He expressed sadness that the governor’s allegations over killings of Fulani is still an allegation that is yet to be proven, as he has neither shown the world the pictures of recovered Fulani corpses nor commenced investigation to prove his allegation.

    Abba said: “The Kaduna State Police commissioner recently debunked the death toll as announced by the governor, insisting that investigation into Fulani killings is still at “embryonic stage.”

    “The allegation by El-Rufai over killings of our brothers of Fulani extraction set the stage for reprisal killings and weaved the labyrinth of insecurity over the besieged Adara communities such as we are currently witnessing. Within the space of one month, we have been horror-stricken at the barbaric attacks carried out by these merchants of death against children, men, women, including the aged. Communities have been reduced to rubbles and insecurity now stalks these towns and villages unchallenged.

    Read also: Lamentations as stakeholders proffer solutions to KADUNA KILLINGS

    “The present spate of killings started on Sunday February 10, 2019 when herdsmen militia, without any form of provocation, attacked Ungwar Barde in Maro ward of Kajuru LGA. In that blistering attack, 10 persons, including a pregnant woman, were killed. To our shock and consternation, not a single word over the killing was issued by the Kaduna State Government. Five days after the attack, exactly on February 15, 2019, Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, on National Television disclosed that security agencies had recovered bodies of 66 Fulani killed by Adara natives. He was later to increase the death toll to 130.

    “We cannot remain silent in the face of these gruesome killings and deliberate agenda to annihilate Adara people whose only crime is being natives. The bourgeoning human carnage has the propensity of spreading to other areas of the state if not effectively checkmated. If we must save our shared humanity and salvage what is left of humankind, we need to close ranks and insist on relevant organs of government to perform their obligations without fear or favour.”

    The gathering prayed that Government should, as a matter of urgency, deploy more security forces into these hinterlands, including consistent aerial surveillance to track down the terrorists and consequently end the carnage.

    They said government at both Federal and state levels must muster courage and the political will to halt the incursion of these non-state actors adding that: “It is our firm belief that powerful retrogressive forces are funding and supporting these well-coordinated militia who come in and strike at our sleepy and peaceful communities and retreat without consequences.

  • Kaduna killings: Catholic bishops ask El-Rufai to convene stakeholders meeting

    The Catholic Bishops of Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province have appealed to Governor Nasir El-Rufai to urgently convene a stakeholders’ meeting.

    They said such a parley would help  in addressing the incessant killings in Kajuru Local Government Area and its environs.

    They spoke through a statement jointly signed by the chairman of the province, His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Matthew Manoso Ndagoso and Secretary, His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. John Mamasa Niriing (OSA) of Kano Diocese.

    Also yesterday, the House of Representatives resolved to investigate the remote and immediate causes of incessant killings in southern part of the state.

    Security agencies have been urged  to intensify efforts at stopping  the deadly attacks and ensuring that peace return to the area.

    The House also asked the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)to urgently  provide the affected communities with relief materials to alleviate their sufferings.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by Yakubu Barde (Kaduna), who  regretted that  relevant authorities have failed to  bring the situation under control.

    The bishops lamented that the resumption of “mindless killings in the Kajuru area of Southern Kaduna came to them with a great shock”.

    They noted with dismay that in the last four months alone, the communities have suffered a chain of tragedies which climaxed with the gruesome murder of their paramount chief, the Agwom Adara, Mr. Maiwada Raphael Galadima, in October last year.

    “We had hoped that this tragedy would alert the state government of the seriousness of the tragedy and all sides of the urgency of peaceful co-existence. Unfortunately, the situation seems to be growing worse among the communities around Adara land.”

    They stressed that, “while the people of Adara still have no traditional ruler, their other leaders have been rounded up under various allegations and have been in detention for a few weeks now”.

    “Clearly, these developments have exposed the Adara people to physical, cultural and psychological insecurity.

    “Although these killings continue to carry such labels as farmer/herder clashes, ethno-religious and reprisal killings, they do not explain the existential threat that this poses for the faith of our people in a united Nigeria.”

     

     

  • Kaduna killings: Fulani groups dispute casualty figure, declare 131 dead

    A coalition of Fulani groups yesterday disputed the casualty figure in the recent killings in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, saying that 131 people were killed in the attacks.

    The figure is one more than the 130 given by the state’s governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

    A list released by the coalition purportedly containing the names of the victims of the mayhem yesterday indicated that 70 children under the age of 10 and 16 others between the ages of 11 and  20 years were killed.

    Sixty-six of the deceased victims, the coalition said, were females.

    The coalition demanded the setting up of a panel by the Federal and Kaduna State governments to investigate the the killings.

    The coalition which include the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore Fulani Socio-cultural Association, Mobgal Fulbe Development Association (MOFDA), Gan Allah Fulani Development Association (GAFDAN) and Fulbe Global Development and Right Initiative, at a joint press conference in Kaduna yesterday, also asked the security agencies to  commence “the process of detailed documentation of the violence, including collection of exhibits and all relevant information to isolate the perpetrators of the violence, arrest and prosecute them for genocide.”

    The groups claimed that while 66 bodies  were  recovered, many other bodies could not be found, apparently because they were burnt by the perpetrators of the killings.

    Their spokesman, Engr. Saleh Alhassan of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, said: “In terms of human loss, 131 persons have so far been killed.

    “The bodies of 66 persons were recovered as earlier stated, where mass burials were performed, with the highest being 37 persons buried in a single, shallow grave in a valley.

    “The dead bodies of 65 pastoralists are yet to be recovered. It is important to state here that survivors had seen when the members of their families were captured by the Adara youths and moved in the directions of the forest for cold-blooded execution in the most brutal of ways.”

    Alhassan  condemned what he called attempts by some people and organisations to deny the killings.

    His words: “Since the news of the carnage first broke, some people, without any iota of evidence, began discrediting the reports from the security authorities.

    “Furthermore, many others began to politicise this gruesome crime where innocent lives were lost.

    “Our organisations had taken time to interact with the victims and ascertain the level of death, killing of animals, loss of properties.

    “It is established that the attackers applied maximum violence, adopting total annihilation where all members of families attacked were killed irrespective of age and gender.

    “For this reason, nobody was spared except those who survived through the miracles of the Almighty God.

    “This is the third time that these forms of crimes are committed by the Adara communities against the pastoralists, now becoming a recurring phenomenon since 2017.

    “I believe every Nigerian will recall the brutal murder of about 100 innocent pastoralists, mostly children, women and the elderly by the Adara militia youths at Angwan Aku and environs in June 2017.

    “That episode is yet to be investigated, and to date, nobody is held accountable.

    “We recognise the effort of the security agencies in rescuing some of the victims but hasten to add that their intervention came too late after the brutal murder of many.”

  • Aisha Buhari donates relief materials to survivors of Kaduna killings

    Wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has donated relief materials worth millions of naira to survivors of the recent killings in Kajuru Local Government area of Kaduna State.

    This was as she described the violent crisis that claimed lives of many citizens of Adara and Fulani communities as unfortunate, praying that such does not occur again.

    Presenting the relief materials to the survivors at Maraban Kajuru and Railway Crossing, all in Kajuru Local Government Area, Mrs. Buhari assured that, the perpetrators of the crime will be fished out and be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    Represented by one of her close associates, Hajia Binta Muazu, the First Lady told both the Fulani and Adara communities affected in the crisis that, God in His wisdom has reasons for bringing them together, therefore, they must live together in peace and harmony.

    According to her, “Her Excellency, wife of the President, Dr. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari feels your pain. She is touched by the unfortunate incident that happened here in Kajuru. She has asked me to express her condolences to you and bring to you some relief materials.

    ”We understand what you are going through, you have lost loved ones, property and you have been displaced. We know that, what we have brought is nothing compared to what you have lost, but because Her Excellency feels your pain, she has asked us to bring these relief materials, which include food items and clothing materials.

    “She also asked me to tell you that, God in His wisdom has reasons for bringing us together in different tribes and religions, therefore, we must learn to live together in peace and harmony.

    “She also asked me to assure you that, the perpetrators of this heinous crime will be fished out by the authorities and will be made to face the most severe punishment according to the law of the land”.

    Also speaking at the event, wife of the  Kaduna State Governor, Hajia Aisha (Ummi) Garba El-Rufai expressed appreciation to the President’s wife, and admonished the people of Kajuru Local Government to live in peace.

    Receiving the items on behalf of the people of Kajuru, Chairman of Local Government Council, Hon. Kafra Caino Boaz expressed dismay that, the image of Kajuru was being soiled by incessant crises.

    He however told the people of the area that, the crises have a denied the local government area meaningful developments and progress.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Halima Augustine thanked the President’s wife for the gesture and appealed to the government to help them aprehend killers of their kinsmen.

    Items donated included trucks load of 25 kilograms bags of rice and other food items, as well as clothing materials.

  • Kaduna killings:Aisha Buhari donates relief materials to survivors

    …says, culprits won’t go unpunished

     

    Wife of the President, Hajia Aisha Muhammadu Buhari has donated relief materials worth millions of naira to survivors of the recent killings in Kajuru local government area of Kaduna state.

    This was as she described the violent crisis that claimed lives of many citizens of Adara and Fulani communities as unfortunate, praying that such does not occur again.

    Presenting the relief materials to the survivors at Maraban Kajuru and Railway Crossing, all in Kajuru local government area, Mrs. Buhari assured that, the perpetrators of the crime will be fished out and be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    Represented by one of her close associates, Hajia Binta Muazu, the First Lady told both the Fulani and Adara communities affected in the crisis that, God in His wisdom has reasons for bringing them together, therefore, they must live together in peace and harmony.

    According to her, “Her Excellency, wife of the President, Dr. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari feels your pain. She is touched by the unfortunate incident that happened here in Kajuru. She has asked me to express her condolence to you and bring to you some relief materials.

    “We understand what you are going through, you have lost loved ones, property and you have been displaced. We know that, what we have brought is nothing compared to what you have lost, but because Her Excellency feels your pain, she has asked us to bring these relief materials, which include food items and clothing materials.

    “She also asked me to tell you that, God in His wisdom has reasons for bringing us together in different tribes and religions, therefore, we must learn to live together in peace and harmony.

    “She also asked me to assure you that, the perpetrators of this heinous crime will be fished out by the authorities and will be made to face the most severe punishment according to the law of the land”.

    Also speaking at the event, wife of the Kaduna State Governor, Hajia Aisha (Ummi) Garba El-Rufai expressed appreciation to the President’s wife, and admonished the people of Kajuru local government to live in peace.

    Receiving the items on behalf of the people of Kajuru, Chairman of local government council, Hon. Kafra Caino Boaz expressed dismay that, the image of Kajuru was being soiled by incessant crises.

    He, however, told the people of the area that, the crises have denied the local government area meaningful developments and progress.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Halima Augustine thanked the President’s wife for the gesture and appealed to the government to help them apprehend killers of their kinsmen.

    Items donated included trucks load of 25 kilograms bags of rice and other food items, as well as clothing materials.

  • Death toll hits 130 in Kaduna killings

    The death toll in the Kajuru killings in Kaduna State has hit 130, Governor Nasir El-Rufai has disclosed.

    El-Rufai, who spoke to State House Correspondents in Abuja after a security meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, said he has evidence to back his claims.

    He spoke just as the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria (SCSN) asked him to implement reports of inquiry into the previous killings.

    The council argued killings have only continued unabated because of failure of government to implement recommendations of the several investigation committees and commissions of inquiry into the previous killings.

    In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Nafi’u Baba Ahmad, the council called on government to bring the perpetrators of the killings to justice to serve as deterrent to others.

    It also asked the government to compensate the victims and rebuild their destroyed properties.

    It said: “The Council has been for the past days, observing with deep concern and keen attention the development so far regarding the recent bloodshed perpetrated by suspected Adara militia on Fulani hamlets in Maro Gida and Iri axis of Kajuru Local Government.

    “Since the story broke out we conducted our private investigation on the sad event and arrived at the followings:

    “Although this is not the first mayhem on Muslims Fulani communities in northern Nigeria, but we are in serious shock and disturbed with the style, sophistication, timing, and the manner in which the large scale cold-blooded massacre of innocent souls was executed.

    “With a profound voice we vehemently condemn this genocidal and dastardly act perpetrated by the enemies of our dear state and country.

    Read Also: PDP plans to disrupt elections – El-Rufai

    “And with deep sorrow we commiserate and condole the “remaining” families of the deceased.

    “Based on our investigation, the killings happened on Monday and 66 people were hacked to death, but the story was attempted to be buried until when it becomes unbearable to the handlers.

    “The attackers killed everything with life including women, children, and animals.

    “This form of mayhem is only confirming the evidence of genocide and monumental hatred of Fulani Muslims in these communities.

    “We are deeply worried and skeptical with the manner and attitude the media and the government for keeping silent about the story for days, they took time before officially breaking it.

    “The delay by both the government and the media is not encouraging. A quick response from both would have gone a long way, in calming the situation.”

    The council berated CAN and SOKAPU for the “brazen and shameless attempt of trying to cover the perpetrators because of ethno-religious sentiment is more dangerous than the act itself.”

    It said: “As Muslims, we can’t watch, in callous indifference to the thousands of Muslims killed as such, once again, we are calling on the Federal and State Government to examine the recommendations made by different reports on previous crises for immediate implementation.

    “We will not for a single moment forget the horrendous atrocities perpetrated by some Christians militia on various Muslim communities at different occasions in this country, such as in Mambila Plateau, Numan, Wase, Jos, Kuru Jenta, Zangon Kataf, Kafanchan, Zonkwa, Kaduna, and Tafawa Balewa.”

  • Kajuru Carnage: Death toll rises to 130 – El-Rufai

    Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna state says the death toll as a result of the communal clash in the Kajuru Local Government Area of the state has risen to 130 as against the previous figure of 66.

    El-Rufai stated this when he spoke to State House correspondents after briefing a security meeting which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

    The governor had on Friday through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Samuel Aruwan, disclosed that 66 people were killed by unknown attackers in Kajuru Local Government Area.

    El-Rufai, who alongside the governors of Borno and Adamawa briefed members of the security committee on security situations in their respective states, frowned at those who questioned the initial casualties’ figures of 66.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that several individuals and organisations including the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) and Human Rights Lawyer, Chidi Odinkalu had expressed doubt over the occurrence of the killings of the 66 persons.

    He said: “The last report we got is that over 130 people were killed not even 66 and the Fulani leaders have provided the names of all these people.

    ”We have the list, we can release it to the Press and I don’t want to be gross but we can release pictures of the people killed and how soldiers have to be there to help bury them, two days after they were killed because the bodies were decomposing.

    ”Whoever still doubts that this did not happen is being grossly irresponsible.’’

    The Ag. Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who also spoke to the correspondents, said the police were ready to protect eligible Nigerians following resolution at the meeting that adequate security be provided within the country.

    Adamu said: ”Today, members of the security community and intelligence community came and briefed Mr President on the security situation in the country.

    “We deliberated on the consequences and came up with the resolve to further provide adequate security within the country so that the electorate will come out and cast their votes without any fear of molestation.

    “Every Nigerian is encouraged to come out on the Election Day and cast his or her vote without any fear of molestation,” he said.

    Read Also: Buhari, El Rufai ‘ll return to office – Kaduna deputy gov

    According to him, security personnel are ready and prepared to protect everybody.

    He further warned that, “anybody that feels that he can come out and disrupt process should have a rethink because that situation will not be allowed.

    “If you plan and allow yourself to be used as touts, whatever happens to you, you will take it.

    “Ballot snatching, ballot buying, thuggery will never be allowed, anybody that is planning to snatch ballot boxes or planning to be used as a tout, will have his or herself to blame on the Election Day. So you better don’t allow yourself to be used.”

  • Saraki, Dogara to interface with Buhari over Kaduna killings

    The Senate Wednesday mandated its leadership and the leadership of the House of Representatives to urgently meet with President Muhammadu Buhari over increasing spate of killings in parts of the country.

    Saraki and Dogara were specifically asked to enquire from President Buhari how the recommendations of the National Assembly on ways and means to prevent crisis in the country were being implemented.

    The resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a motion on “The wanton killings in Kaduna State, a call for caution.”

    Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) in his lead debate drew the attention of the Senate to the wanton killings in Kasuwa Magani, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis under Chikun Local Government, Kaduna State.

    He expressed concerned over the destruction of lives and property that “have been spiral in the past days of the week.”

    Hunkuyi said that the Senate should note “the indiscriminate and senseless killings and insecurity that have pervaded Kaduna and its environs even with the curfew imposed within the state.”

    He feared that the curfew while necessary to curb unwarranted movement could also be counter-productive when majority of the people of the state were living from hand to mouth.

    He added that “locking people at home can only solve one aspect of the problem, while it can lead to other crimes like robbery and theft.”

    He said that the Senate should be aware that the paramount ruler of Adara land, Angwan Adara has been taken hostage with six of his aides killed during a kidnap and hostage taking on the route from Kaduna to Kachia which is the headquarters of Adara Chiefdom.

    Hunkuyi prayed the Senate to prevail on the Kuduna State Government and the Federal Government to quicken the release of the paramount ruler of Adara who was wished away about a week ago.

    Senator Shehu Sani (Kauna Central) who officially announced his defection form the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) said that the killings were totally condemnable.

    Senator Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South) described what is going on in Kaduna as “most unfortunate.”

    He said that those being killed in Zamfara State were Muslims while those being killed Kaduna State were Christians.

    La’ah criticized the action of the governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai for leaving that state without handing over to the deputy governor.

    He said that the governor should be held accountable for the mayhem that befell the state.

    The Kaduna south senators said that it is obvious that those behind the killings were known.

    Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) in his contribution also said that behind the killings were “were well know,”

    Marafa noted that what is fueling the killings was that the perpetrators were never punished.

    The perpetrators, he added “kill and get away with their crime.”

    Senator Philip Gyunka (Nasarawa North) said that the problem should be traced to the door step of the governor of the state.

    He wondered why the El-Rufai should travel abroad with informing the state House of Assembly.

    Gyunka said that El-Rufai should be asked who he handed over to before he travelled.

    He said, “Maybe the governor got wind of what was coming and decided to travel.”

    Saraki said that those who spoke underscored that fact that perpetrators were not held accountable for their act.

    He said there was no doubt that there were problems that needed to be sorted out.

    He said that the Senate should schedule a date to discuss that issue with heads of security agencies.

    Senator Emmanuel Bwacha countered that a head of security agency invited to discuss the issue refused to honour the invitation “and nothing was done to him.”

    Saraki agreed with the suggestion of the Senate leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan that the National Assembly leadership should engage the Executive on implementation of resolutions on national security.