…Expect self-defence, group warns govt
Gunmen were on the rampage in Kaduna and Plateau states yesterday, killing 14 people, even as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Centre for Development and Rights Advocacy (CDRA), said that the Southern Kaduna community may be forced defend itself against any aggression. Read more
In Kaduna State, unknown bandits again invaded Adu Village in Attakar Chiefdom in Kaura Local Government Area, killing eight people.
The Adu community was attacked in April this year when several residents were also murdered by yet-to-be identified persons, even as the Commissioner of Police, Olufemi Adenaike, confirmed the incident, saying; “the attack was a reprisal by the Fulani.”
According to him, “this is a reprisal by the Fulani, the place of attack is an isolated place, it is a community, about 10 kilometres from Attakar and the road is not motorable, that is why they decided to target the place. The attackers killed about seven persons, and it was an early morning raid.
“Already, about five Fulani have been arrested and investigations are ongoing. People should not take laws into their hands. We should allow the law enforcement agencies to do their work, alert security operatives who are on ground now to maintain law and order.”
But reacting to the killing, CDRA has written Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, stating its position.
The letter signed by its spokesperson, Dr. John Danfulani said, “once again, the village of Adu in Attakar chiefdom of Kaura Local Government came under attack by murderers in the wee hours of September 2, 2013. The latest attack resulted in the killing of eight people, leaving scores of injured kids and women who are now recieving medical treatment. More to this, is destruction of their farmlands and properties worth millions of naira.
“Report reaching us suggests that five suspects have been apprehended by the vigilant people of Bondom in their attempt to escape from their operating theatre (the hills of Attakar). The killers were nabbed driving in a OPEL Vectra car with blood-stained cloths. They were handed over to the police. The car and suspects are now in Kaura Police division.
“On each incident, government comes out with the promise to fish out perpetrators and punish them in tandem with dictates of the law. Beyond those superficial tension-cooling talks, nothing is done or heard until the next ugly incident is recorded.
“Our bank of patience has gone red. And since government has consciously or otherwise failed to provide security for our people, we shall deploy the only option left on our table – which is, self-help or attacking the attacker. And when that happens, we must not be viewed as evangelist of anomie but citizens struggling to survive from a genocide agenda set by their enemies”, the letter read.
In the Plateau State incident, gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, killed six people in Kungte Village in Jos South Local Government Area.
The bandits stormed the village in the early hours of yesterday and opened fire on the victims who were said to be members of two families. The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Pastor Yiljab Abraham, said in a statement that government had received reports of attacks on some communities with great indignation, noting that the incident claimed the lives of six members of two families in their home.
While condemning the attack, Abraham described it as wicked. He said that it was a display of cowardice by the perpetrators who under the cover of darkness, attacked women and children to achieve clearly devilish designs.
‘Such attacks, coming at a time when the state had been relatively peaceful, appear as a desperate attempt to reverse the gains of our hard-earned efforts in breaking down the barriers of ethnic and religious intolerance, while rebuilding the bridges of communal consensus.
“Such intentions will fail because Plateau people have made up their minds to live in peace with one another – and, together with the state government and security agencies, they will frustrate every attempt aimed at taking the state back to the days of bloodshed and gloom. The current level of peace in the state is for consolidation, not evaporation!
“Government shares the pains of victims of these heinous crimes and declares that those behind such acts will face justice in the long run. We call on communities to remain alert always and work closely with security agencies in the sustenance of peace”, the statement said.
Meantime, security agencies have intensified their cordon and search operations.
Recall that three people were killed on Sunday in Kukah village of Shendam Local Government Area, three days after a pregnant woman and five others were also murderd in Barkin Ladi council.
From ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE, Kaduna and Mariam Aleshinloye Agboola, Jos
Culled from The Sun newspaper
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