Zangon-Kataf: Miyetti Allah, SOKAPU in battle of wits, accuse each other of killings

The Fulani and Atyap people of Zangon Kataf Local Government area of Kaduna State are entangled in a battle of wits as both parties are accusing each other of massive killings going on in the area. 

The Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Kaduna chapter, Alhaji Haruna Usman Tugga in a statement on Friday accused Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) of killing defenceless Fulani herdsmen and members of their families.

Miyetti noted that 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.

Miyetti said, “We are all aware, violent conflicts have been ongoing in many of the villages in Atyap Chiefdom of Zangon Kataf Local Government. 

According to the statement, “based on the information available to our Association, what triggered 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 the 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,” the statement alleged. 

“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, cattle belonging to the Fulani 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. 

“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.

“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. 

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.”

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