Unknown gunmen attacked a community in Zango Kataf Local Government Area (LGA) of the Kaduna state, killing two persons and burning several houses, barely 24 hours after Southern Kaduna peace summit.
The peace summit, organised by the National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) in collaboration with inter-faith groups, had at the end iin Kafanchan on Thursday called for immediate end to killings, attacks, kidnappings and rustling in the region.
But, Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) in a statement on Friday signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Luka Binniyat, said a large number of gunmen invaded Manyi-Mashin village in the early hours of Friday killing two persons, who were burnt, burning several houses and carting away valuables.
According to SOKAPU, “Early this morning, (11th September, 2020) Manyi-Mashin village, in Zamandabo ward, in Atyap Chiefdom, Zangon Kataf LGA in Southern Kaduna, was invaded by hordes of Fulani armed men who burnt down almost all the houses in the village, looting and carting away valuables.
“Two persons were burnt in their homes beyond recognition: They are Cecilia Ishaya, 62, a widow and mother of six children and Iliya Sunday, 56, who left behind eight children. Though men of Operation Safe Heaven (OPSH) promptly responded, the militia fled before their arrival.
“This was after Fulani militia on the 8th September, 2020 lay ambush for three Atyap youths from Atakmawei in same Zamandabo Ward in Atyap Chiefdom, as they went to clear weed in their sugarcane farm about a kilometer from their village. Suddenly, armed herdsmen came from hiding and struck. They descended on them with daggers and machetes.
“Anthony Magaji, 25, a final year HND student of Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria, was hacked down. They axed his neck and head with macabre wounds and killed him instantly. Isaac Thomas, 24, also an OND student of the same School, managed to escape with life threatening injuries and is now under intensive care in a hospital, while the third escaped with less injury.
“SOKAPU wishes to once again request the federal government, through Operation Safe Heaven, under the command of Major General Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, to expatiate action and expel and bring to book all the Fulani militia that are currently occupying 101 Southern Kaduna Communities in four of our LGAs.
“We have furnished the world with the details and we are happy to note, that eight of the displaced communities in Zangan District in Kaura LGA are now returning home as a result of more presence of men of OPSH.
“We are appealing to our youths to shun all forms of provocation and conduct themselves in manners that will not make them fall short of the law, not compromising their rights for self-preservation under the law.
“We have received complains of farmers in Gora axis of Atyap Chiefdom, who say that Fulani men occasional sneak into their farms destroy large swath of growing food crops, thus leaving them with a bleak prospect of hunger in the near future.
“All these gory development is taking place after a much publicised peace deal was reached between natives of Atyap Chiefdom on one side and their long time settled Hausa and Fulani representatives on 23rd August, 2020 in Ungwan Wakili, close to Zangon Kataf town,” Luka said.
