Kaduna killings: Fulani youth demand arrest of CAN chairman, others


A Fulani Youth group has called for the arrest of the chairman of
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kaduna state chapter, Rev.
Joseph Hayab, and former Chairman Human Rights Commission, Chidi
Odinkalu, over alleged cover up in the killings of about 66 people in
Kaduna state.

The group on the aegis of Jonde Jam Fulani Youth Association in
Nigeria (JAFUYAN), also demanded for the arrest of the Zonal
Coordinator, North West of the National Emergency Management Agency
(NEMA) Ishaya Chonoko.

National President of the group, Sa’idu Maikano while speaking with
journalists in Jos disagree with the comments made by Odinkalu, Hayab
and Chonoko who had earlier dismissed the killings as baseless and an
attempt to cover up the attack.

He said: “What happened to our people in Kajuru was mass murder. We
have reports that over 200 people were killed, yet government and
security agencies are downplaying the figures to 66. Enemies of this
country who are not showing remorse and instead of condemning the
killings are rejoicing and trying to cover it up. They must be
arrested.”

According to Maikano, the attack was a coordinated gang up against the
Fulani communities by surrounding communities of Kajuru and their
sponsors.

“We now know that the people who were trying to cover up the killings
may likely be the sponsors and we ask that they be investigated
immediately,” he demanded.

“It is embarrassing that a former Chairman of Human Rights Commission
and who is supposed to protect the rights of all humans to live would
disparage our dead.

“And for NEMA to side with our attackers tells you that they must be
investigated to find out what role their officials played in the cover
up.

“For CAN, we are giving them a final warning, let them know that they
do not know our homes more than we do, and they should caution their
youths, this should be the last time they would attack us,” he said.

Maikano however said they have been trying to calm their people but
warned that “enough is enough; our warning is that it is better to
bring out those responsible for the killings and hand them over to law
enforcement agencies. We would allow security agents time to do their
work. But they must arrest those responsible for the killings, their
sponsors and those who tried to bury it.”

He urged the federal and state governments to immediately send relief
materials to the displaced adding that, “we don’t know where some of
our people are, whether they are dead or alive because they are all
scattered around.”

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