in Dogo Nahawa shows natives gathering
at a mass burial of their kinsmen killed
during a religious crisis. At least 100
people were killed in weekend attacks on
three AFP PHOTO
KADUNA — The remains of about 150
Southern Kaduna natives, were,
yesterday, buried in a mass grave in
Unguwant Gata, Maroa Chiefdom of Karua
Local Government Area of the state,
according to a local chief from the area.
Sankwai, Tekum and Unguwan Gata
villages in Maroa Chiefdom were,
Saturday, invaded by what villagers said
were Fulani gunmen, killing no fewer than
200 natives and burning the three
villages, after plundering them.
It was gathered that all Southern Kaduna
villages were sombre, over the attacks,
as special prayers were offered for the
deceased in all churches.
Meanwhile, the Southern Kaduna
Peoples Union, SOKAPU, the umbrella
body for ethnic nationalities in the
southern part of Kaduna State, has said
that the people of the area, have no
choice than to defend themselves against
the frequent attacks and killings by the
Fulani gunmen.
Addressing newsmen, yesterday, in
Kaduna, President of SOKAPU, Dr.
Ephraim Goje, said that the persistent
attacks and massacres of their people was
a clear indication that the government
and the security agencies were not
capable of protecting them.
He said the people were being pushed to
the wall as they were being killed and
their homes and property destroyed,
adding that it had become imperative for
them to defend themselves by whatever
means necessary.
Goje said, "the Fulanis have unofficially
declared war on our people. No
community has the monopoly of violence,
so our people are being pushed to a level
that we may take certain actions aimed at
defending ourselves and our land in order
to put an end to this impunity and
senseless killings."
He added that over 5,000 people had
been displaced in the 40 attacks on
communities in the southern part of the
state since 2011.
"We have identified the perpetrators as
Fulani herdsmen as responsible for the
attacks and killings, but each time we
raise this observation, the Fulani socio-
cultural organisations within the state
have out-rightly denied the involvement
of their people, asking for proofs."
He added that two Fulani youths in
Manchok led Saturday's attack, during
which 219 people were killed, noting that
the Fulani youths died in the process and
their corpses were identified by the
locals.
"The recent attack was led by two well
known young Fulanis resident in
Manchock town, who died in the process.
Their dead bodies had clearly and
unambiguously been identified by the
natives and their corpses are now kept by
the Joint Task Force, JTF, Command in
Kafanchan for further forensic screening.
"This has clearly vindicated us and
confirms our earlier position that the
Fulanis have declared a jihad on the
people of Southern Kaduna and Nigeria,
evidenced by this genocide in Bondong,
the murder in Katsina State, Birnin Gwari,
Plateau, Zamfara, Taraba, Benue, among
others.
"In some of these attacks, suspects had
been arrested and handed over to
security agencies for prosecution, only for
the culprits to be seen working freely on
the streets the next day.
"What comes to our minds now is that,
truly, the Fulanis have unofficially
declared war on our people. Let it be
placed on record that no community has
the monopoly of violence, so our people
are being pushed to the wall and we may
take certain steps aimed at defending
ourselves and our land in order to put an
end to this impunity," Goje warned.
He lamented the lack of collaboration
between security agencies in Kaduna and
Plateau states, noting that the attackers
often come in from the Plateau axis to
attack Atakar and Marwa chiefdoms,
which are bordering Plateau State, adding
that each time they are chased by
security agents from Kaduna State, they
run to the Plateau where they walk freely
to celebrate their so-called victories
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