16 Fulani Killed,300 Houses Burnt In Southern Kaduna Conflict -MACBAN

The Miyyati  Allah  Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria ( MACBAN) has alleged that conflicts in Atyap Chiefdom of Zangon Kataf Local Government area of Kaduna State, has so far led to the killing of 16 persons, mostly women and children, while over  300 houses belonging to the Fulani were reportedly burnt to ashes in different villages of the Chiefdom.

MACBAN also said  that the Fulani pastoralists were equally, victims of the atrocities of bandits who spare nobody, as “they are constantly rustling cows, kidnapping pastoralists and killing whenever they failed to pay ransoms as demanded by the bandits.”

Alhaji Haruna Usman Tugga, Chairman of the Miyyati Allah  Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria told journalists in Kaduna on Friday, that based on the information available to their association, the trigger for the present round of disturbances emanated from the attack on a family by unknown bandits in Gora Gan village of the Chiefdom on 7th July 2021.

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He regretted that ” as is characteristic of the misinformed youths who are indoctrinated to hate the Fulani pastoralists, attack on cattle rearers followed the unfortunate event. While security agencies moved swiftly to contain the violence around Gora Gan and adjoining villages, there was a mobilization of Atyap youths by some ethnic chauvinists among the Atyap ethnic community and other non-peace loving organizations that resulted in attacks on Fulani settlements throughout the Chiefdom. Within a few days, all the houses of the Fulani in the Chiefdom were burnt by mobs in broad daylight.”

He said “In addition to the burning of settlements, an unconfirmed number of Fulani pastoralists were also killed. As a consequence, the surviving victims of the arson are now internally displaced and scattered around in neighbouring Local Governments of Kaura, Kauru, Lere, Jema’a and Kachia. Due to the nature of attacks and displacement of the Fulani people, we are yet to ascertain the total number of people killed, even though there are confirmed reports of the killing of 16 persons, mostly women and children. Over 300 houses belonging to the Fulani are reportedly burnt to ashes in the different villages for the Chiefdom.”

“Not only are people and houses targeted, but cattle belonging to the Fulani also were not spared. There are reports of the killing of many cows, the numbers of which are yet to be determined because of the tense security situation in the area. Additionally, thousands of cows were abandoned by the fleeing cattle owners, which exposed the animals to threats of rustling.

Unsubstantiated information available to us indicated that several groups of cattle rustlers have already invaded the areas to rustle the remaining cows, with reports of occasional clashes between the cattle rustling gangs.”

“This is the situation at the moment in those affected areas. The Fulani pastoralists are in disarray, at the mercy of God, with no support from any quarters. Their means of livelihood and habitation has been totally destroyed.

It is against this background that we found a Press Statement issued by the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) most surprising. We are shocked by the sources of their information, and for retorting to total blackmail against the victims of aggression. People whose households were completely burnt, who scampered for safety leaving behind all possessions could be accused of perpetrating violence.”

MACBAN, therefore, urged media organizations and the general public to “ignore the usual provocative and insensitive statements coming out from SOKAPU and other affiliated groups.”

“We appeal to Media organizations to be impartial and to listen to all sides, visit the scenes across the divides and speak to people on all sides to provide Nigerians with accurate accounts of what is happening in the affected areas.

What is most needed at this stage from SOKAPU and all other stakeholders is partnership and cooperation that will lead to durable peace and social harmony. There is need for collective action to deal with the challenges of insecurity, which also require strategic cooperation with the governments, traditional leaders and security establishments at all levels.”

“We wish to clearly state that the Fulani pastoralists are equally, victims of the atrocities of bandits who spare nobody. They are constantly rustling cows, kidnapping pastoralists and killing whenever they failed to pay ransoms as demanded by the bandits. Attacks on communities by bandits have nothing to do with Fulani pastoralists. We are using this platform to call on all the misguided youths across the divides, but particularly of the Atyap ethnic group to refrain from taking unilateral and violent actions by attacking Fulani pastoralists following every breach of security. Indeed, security agencies and other constituted authorities should be allowed to investigate every criminal action and attack on individuals and communities. We have seen how many of such investigations in the past found out that criminals within the same ethnic group were responsible for the crimes earlier thought to have been committed by Fulani pastoralists.”

“We are appealing to the State and Local Government, the traditional leaders and all peace-loving citizens in the State to initiate interventions that will restore the areas to the path of peace. A lot of social re-orientation programmes are needed to change the negative mindset of the youths in the areas. Organizations and individuals promoting hate speech, inciting the public, mobilizing youths towards violence and provide any form of support towards violence are strongly urged to stop that. The security agencies need to act fast to stop these organizations and individuals for durable peace and stability to be attained not only in Atyap Chiefdom but the entire State.“

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