Killings, Missing of Community leaders as Fulani, Atyap clashes in S/Kaduna

Idibia Gabriel, Kaduna

There are cases of reported missing of people especially community leaders following the clash between Fulani and Atyap indigenes in Aryap Chiefdom in the Southern part of Kaduna state.

The Atyap community recently issued a press release of the alleged missing of three of their leaders including the secretary to the district heads after a meeting between herders and farmers over damaging of farm crops by cattle.

Also in a press conference concerned on Thursday in Kaduna by Fulani group under Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the group decried the alleged missing and killing of their leaders Wakilin Fulani of Atyap (kataf) Chiefdom by Atyap people.

The Fulani group led by State Chairman Alh. Haruna Usman Tugga lamented alleged renewed wanton Killings of innocent Fulani people in Zango kataf local government and destruction of their properties, demanding justice and compensation.

“It is on a very sad note that our association addresses you today. This is in relation
to the renewed wanton killings of innocent Fulani people in Zangon Kataf LGA and
destruction of their properties.

“In the past few days, there have been series of deliberately targeted killings by the Atyap communities on Fulani people including two Ardos namely: Ardo Pate Kurmi (Wakilin Fulani in the Atyap Chiefdom) and Ardo Muhammadu Anchau who were brutally killed in cold blood after embarking on a peace mission to Gora District of the Atyap Chiefdom”, they said.

According to the MACBAN, the killing of their leaders was allegedly mastermind through connivance and tacit support of Security operatives.

“Their killing was orchestrated in a systematic way with active connivance or tacit support of the Officer In-charge (0/c) of Operation Safe Haven stationed at Gora Gan village,
Gora District.

“This is because the attack that culminated into the brutal killing of the two Ardos and one other person started right at the camp of the Operation
Sate Haven at Gora Gan when some Atyap women erupted into the protest, attacking the Ardos and other three Fulani people that were with them.

“Notwithstanding the violent protests, the officers of Operation Safe Haven asked the Ardos to be driven by the Secretary to the District Head of Gora District (one Ayuba Bungwon) without any security cover.

“Unfortunately, they were intercepted on the road along Sagwaza and the two Ardos and one other person by name Muhammed Yakubu got brutally killed.

“As the Almighty would have it, two young persons were able to overrun the attackers and narrowly escaped”, the Fulani group stated.

According to them, there were several other attacks on Fulani people and their livestock in Zango Kataf LGAs and surrounding Local Governments.
In Kagarko grazing reserve in kagarko local government area of Kaduna state, MACBAN stated that “It is imperative to also inform you; gentlemen of the press about the antics and deliberate destruction of Fulani settlements in the Kagarko grazing reserve by one Vice Admiral Iko Ibrahim (r.t.d) who is a former Chief of Naval Staff who have been going about intimidating, harassing and torturing of Fulani community
members of the grazing reserve on the pretext that he is the owner of over 30, 000 hectares in the grazing reserve.

“The said Vice Admiral lko Ibrahim have been conniving with the military personnel manning the roadblock at kagarko town usually enter the grazing reserve n their Hilux vehicle in a commando-style subjecting the residents of the grazing reserve to series.

“The association notes that unless drastic measures are taken by the relevant serious security to bring about peace in the grazing reserve and the entire Kagarko because of the burning of their hamlets and other valuables.

They, therefore, prayed that Perpetrators of violence against our people should be identified, arrested, and prosecuted according to the laws of the land while calling on their members to be calm and law-abiding and not to take laws into their hands and to allow constituted authorities to enforce peace and
order.

They also called on the leadership of Atyap Chiefdom in particular and the Southern Kaduna in general to caution their subjects from attacking, killing, and maiming our members and destroying their hard-earned wealth.

“The Government should pay adequate compensation for the lives of our members who were killed during the attacks as well as for their wealth that was heartlessly destroyed by the Atyap communities among others.

“We appeal to the Kaduna State Government to take the necessary action by ensuring the arrest and prosecution of the said Vice Admiral lko Ibrahim (r.t.d.) and his cohorts.

“We call on the Kaduna State Government to come to the aid of the victims of the violence perpetrated by Vice Admiral Iko Ibrahim and his agents which rendered them homeless and currently living in deplorable conditions at the goodwill of neighbors and relations”, they stated.