SOKAPU, Others Protest ‘Genocide’ In Southern Kaduna

From Julius B Kezi, Kaduna
The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) in collaboration with Coalition of Professionals have held a mass protest and cried out to the Kaduna State government, the Federal Government and the United Nations (UN) for help over “genocide” in Southern Kaduna.
Speaking at a press conference before the mass protest in Gwantu, Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, SOKAPU President, Barrister Kaptain Solomon Musa and the Chairman Coalition of Professionals, Barrister Mark Jacob, lamented “the systematic and continuous killings of harmless and armless people in Sanga, and other parts of Southern Kaduna.”
They said “we are together joining our brothers and sisters all over the world and all men of good will and conscience to say that enough of the blood shed of our harmless and armless people in Sanga and other parts of Southern Kaduna. Enough of bloodshed and kidnapping in Kaduna State. Let it stop”.
The SOKAPU President and Chairman of Coalition of Professionals said people of the area were “demanding that the present government of Kaduna State co-funding of a joint military operations in the Forest and bushes of Birnin Gwari to rescue rustled cows and goats should be extended to Southern Kaduna to safe human lives and properties”.
They gave an estimated 10, 000 figure of Southern Kaduna natives from 24 villages killed since the invasion of their communities started in 2011, adding that in 2014, there were 30,000 refugees fleeing killing and arson from Sanga alone, “those natives are yet to return home as herdsmen have converted they farm lands into grazing grounds, under arms”.
Asserting that the people of the area have right to live in peace and dignity as they pursue their livelihood as guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution and the UN Convention, the duo said their protest was not motivated by politics, religion or ethnicity but a group of natives seeking the right to life.
Appreciating Governor Narsir eL-Rufai for visiting some of the communities ravaged by herdsmen in Sanga and Jema’a Local Government a week ago, the two SOKAPU leaders lamented that the governor’s “promise to end the killings and destruction of homes and crops and to fish out the culprits was just a political statement”.
They explained that two days after the visit, Pastor Luka Ubangari of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ungwan Anjo, Godogodo chiefdom was killed by suspected herdsmen. They added that two days later the same herdsmen went to Ningon Community Sanga Local Government and killed Mr. Gambo Sule, and Benjamin Auta, throwing their wives to widowhood and making their children father-less.
According to them, in spite of those “ nefarious acts’, no person has been arrested and charged, instead “ youths who put their lives at stake to protect their communities are always arrested by the police and soldiers and locked up”.
Wondering about the selective arrest, the two Community leaders recalled a statement credited to the Kaduna state chairman of Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association, Dr. Haruna Usman, that the killing and destruction in Gada Biu, Akwa’a, Ungwan Anjo and Godogodo were in retaliation to the killing of an Ardo in the area.
They said that the statement points to the premise that “Usman knows the actors, yet he has not been questioned by the authority.”
They also fingered government over efforts to please Fulani herdsmen to the detriment of other communities by forceful annexation of inherited farmlands and converting them to grazing reserves and ranches, which they said negates constitutional provisions.
On behalf of the 67 tribal groups of Southern Kaduna, SOKAPU demanded that:
i. The government of Mallam Nasir EL-Rufai keeps his campaign promises of safe-guarding lives and property by funding a formidable joint military operation to flush out murderers and restore captured lands to their owners.
ii. Demanded the release of all youths unjustly detained and restitution paid to them over the haranguing experience they were subjected to.
iii. Haruna Usman of MCBA be arrested and interrogated and made to identify Fulani that were on vengeance mission.
iv. No confiscation of 120,000 hectares of people’s ancestral land for cattle grazing reserves or ranches. It is clear constitutionally that no land should be taken from a community and given to another for exclusive use for profit.
They called on the State and Federal Governments to assist internally displaced persons (IDPS) of the area with shelter, food as they live under sub-human conditions in schools and private places.
SOKAPU solicited from members of the public, Churches, Mosques, corporate and public organizations, NGOs, international agencies and governments for assistance to internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
SOKAPU also called on people of Southern Kaduna never to take laws into their hands, no matter the provocation. However, they encouraged them to take every available legal means to defend their lives, property and dignity against any act terrorism, “should government renege on that cardinal and constitutional responsibility of defending them.
After the press conference, a procession of the protesters went to the Sanga Local Government Council Secretariat and delivered a letter and the press statement to the council chairman, tobe delivered to the state government, for onward transmission to the federal government.
Receiving the protesters and the letter, Vice chairman, Interim Management Council, Yusuf Usaman Madaki Aboro, promised to deliver the message to his boss, who was said to be on official engagement.
He said government was concerned over the incessant attacks on communities in the area and hopeful that efforts would be made to end the violence.