*42 houses burnt, dozens displaced
*Accuses Fulanis
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
At least 68 persons have been reportedly killed, 15 others injured and 42 houses burnt in an attacks that created streams of displaced persons fleeing for safety in Atyap land in Southern Kaduna area of Kaduna state, within one month.
About 63 Atyap communities have also been attacked, hundreds of homes burnt and hundreds of natives killed in the past 6 years by pillaging armed herdsmen, without a single Fulani facing prosecution for these crimes.
Making the disclosures at a press conference Thursday in Kaduna, SOKAPU president Awemi Dio Maisamari noted that instead of arresting and prosecuting the culprits, scores of Atyap leaders were arrested and put in jail over trumped up charges in the violence in which they were the victims.
Addressing journalists, the SOKAPU President said the herdsmen have already warned the natives of danger and consequences of going for farming in this coning raining season in the area.
“We are constrained to address you today on the pressing issue of the security situation affecting our people in Southern Kaduna.
“You are all witnesses to the wanton cruelty being visited on our communities by bands of murderous armed herdsmen in the recent past for which no single arrest has been made.
“Last Sunday, 16th April, 2023, the peaceful, farming Runji village (Sankwab) in Atyap land Zangon Kataf LGA in Southern Kaduna, was invaded by marauding armed herdsmen around 1 am in which they carried out horrific acts of murder, arson and theft.
“After operating for hours, brave youths of the town joined by others from neighboring villages teamed up and faced the invaders who then retreated into the night. By day break, 42 houses were burnt with 17 women and children roasted beyond recognition.
“12 corpses mutilated by machete cuts and bullet shots were picked in and around the village. Later in the day, 4 persons that were rushed to hospitals, died of their wounds, making the death toll 33 and those still in hospitals, 8.
“The victims were buried in a mass grave on the eastern edge of the village. Southern Kaduna is dotted by numerous mass graves of such kind of victims.
“As usual, the Kaduna State Government and the Federal Government have not visited the place nor send any form of assistance to the scores that have been rendered homeless”, he said.
The union recall that on March 16th, 2023, invading armed herdsmen attacked homes in Langson, also in Atyap land using machetes and knives and killed 10 natives around 9pm.
“Also, on 13th March, 2023, armed herdsmen killed 8 persons in Atakjeh, close to the palace of the traditional rulers of Atyap land.
“On the 12th March, in a shocking mass murder, armed herdsmen attacked Unguwan Wakili, less than 800m from a military checkpoint and killed 17 persons, mostly women and children. Unguwan Wakili is in Atyap land, about 2km to Zangon Kataf semi-urban area notorious for harboring armed herdsmen.
“In all, within one month, 68 persons have been killed in Atyap land, leaving 15 with life threatening injuries. These attacks have created streams of displaced persons fleeing for safety.
“In the past 6 years, about 63 Atyap communities have been attacked, hundreds of homes burnt and hundreds of natives killed by pillaging armed herdsmen. Not a single Fulani is facing prosecution for these crimes. Ironically, scores of Atyap leaders have been arrested and put in jail over trumped up charges in the violence in which they are the victims”, he lamented.
