Bandits Have Captured 16 Southern Kaduna Villages, Community Cries Out At Slain Monarch’s Funeral

Well-armed militia in troubled Southern Kaduna region of Kaduna State have captured about 16 villages in just one area, the leader of a local association has confirmed. Southern Kaduna women

The leader of Attakad Community Development Association, Ishaya Kunden, was speaking on Saturday during the funeral of a traditional ruler who was ambushed and killed by the bandits.
He further disclosed that about 180 people have been killed in Attakad Chiefdom since 2013 and 10,000 persons displaced.
“Since these invasions and killings of our people started on the 24th March, 2013, we have lost 16 villages to Fulani militia invaders,” he lamented.  “At the last count, 180 people have been killed. Right now, Fulani men are fully settled with their cattle and families, in Mayit, Agwom, Zakai Gira, Tunga Magwot, Telak, Zakum and Kirim. Go there and see them: their cattle are grazing on everything we left behind.”
Kunden expressed regret that the world has forgotten about his people as if they are not human beings.
“As if we not part of the most injured in human society,” he said.  “10,000 Atakad are now homeless and are wondering from relations to churches and anywhere they can get assistance. The state government has done very little to help. Only the churches and some NGOs are coming in with relief materials to victims still hanging around.”
He further disclosed that all of the children are out of schools because of the menace, and the men cannot return to their farms.
“It is horrible,” Kunden said.  “All we are asking is more soldiers and protection.”
He called on the people of Southern Kaduna to be united to fight the dangerous trend, pointing out that the invaders want to take over the hills and use them as a launch pad to invade the entire Southern Kaduna.
“That is why they are killing our people in Sanga and chasing them from the hills,” he lamented.
It would be recalled that last September, Governor Mukhtar Yero was rebuffed in the area when he visited for the first time after months of widespread assault and killing by the invaders.  He was met by women who expressed their rejection of the governor’s insensitivity and negligence with angry, and sometimes naked, protests. 
Of the months of killing, Barrister Sunday Ugah, a United States based indigene of Southern Kaduna, expressed his disgust that Governor Yero never bothered to visit his people throughout their ordeal until his hunt for 2015 votes began.  
“We all know it is for political reasons,” he said of the belated visit.  “He came in company of hundreds of security personnel. We have no business with his politics, but we will speak in the (2015) ballot."
He further promised: “The world will hear us, they are killing us like animals and none of them can raise a voice because of vested interests.”

 

Source: SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK