SOKAPU cries out: Our communities under siege, marked for annihilation

 The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has raised the alarm of an imminent annihilation, following what it described as dastardly invasion and killings of its people by armed bandits in recent times.

The union which specifically expressed sadness over the recent attacks on communities in Igabi and Giwa local government areas where no fewer than 51 persons were gruesomely killed, said the apology given by Governor Nasir el-Rufai over the killings might be premised on rhetoric calculated at achieving some political agenda, rather than expressing genuine sympathy.

A press statement issued by the President of SOKAPU, Hon Jonathan Asake, Monday said, “The attention of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has been drawn to the recent sympathy visit by Governor Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai to the communities in Igabi and Giwa LGAs that resulted in the death of no fewer than 51 persons. During the visit, the governor, apart from vowing to deal with the bandits, also apologised to the communities over inability of government to protect them.”

 “The prompt response by el-Rufai as demonstrated in his sympathy visit may have portrayed him as a humane leader that is genuinely interested in the welfare of   citizens. It is strange that after series of deadly attacks on communities, mostly in   the southern part, he has neither condemned it nor issue a statement on such attacks. Could this present apology be premised on rhetoric calculated at achieving some political agenda, rather than expressing genuine sympathy?”

Recalling the endless attacks on their communities, SOKAPU said, “on 6th January, 2020 armed bandits, numbering over 100, invaded over 10 communities in Chikun LGA where they abducted no fewer than 58 people and killed no fewer than 35. They also sacked over 8,000 as internally displaced persons (IDPs) scattered all over communities that have not been attacked in the local government area.”

“On the same day, Kasso community, also in Chikun LGA, located on the eastern boundary with Kajuru LGA, came under attack where three members of the same family were killed and two abducted, including a breast-feeding mother with a six-month old baby.

“On January 8, gunmen attacked Good Shepherd Seminary in Buwaya, Kaduna, where they abducted four seminarians. One of them, Mike Nnadi, was later murdered, while three were set free.  On 25th January, 2020, the wife of a medical doctor, Dr Phillip Ataga, was kidnapped alongside her two children. She was later killed, leaving the children behind who were later released after a whopping sum of money was paid as ransom.

“On 13th February, 2020, armed militia men stormed an open market in Maro village in Kajuru LGA and killed eight people, while inflicting injuries on several others.

 “Against the backdrop, SOKAPU wishes to let the world know that our communities are under siege and marked for complete annihilation.  We feel very strongly that the silence of the Kaduna state government on the unending massacres of our people is not only suggestive of complicity, but also a well-crafted ploy to obliterate our communities.”

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