Nigeria: Southern Kaduna: How 14 people were killed and 31 kidnapped – SOKAPU
By Ahmad Hadizat Omayoza, Mamos Nigeria
In a statement, SOKAPU, the women’s wing of the Southern Kaduna People’s Union, sent a ‘Save Our Souls’ (SOS) to Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, calling on him to address the deteriorating security situation in the region.
Sokapu recalls the chaos caused by bandit herdsmen in the area on October 2, 2021 and October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 14 people, the abduction of 31 people and the loss of food and supplies. Animals were looted and arson was committed. The destruction of villages and many people left them homeless.
SOKAPU National Women’s Coordinator Ms. Cemtu Kataruma said inter alia in her statement: It includes the local councils of Kajuru and Chikun in the central senatorial zone of Kaduna. Of these 12 local governments in southern Kaduna, many have fallen victim to violence and crime by armed groups, especially bandits and armed herdsmen, with thousands of people killed, their homes torched, and hundreds kidnapped. Only three municipalities do not.
“Hundreds of villages were looted, some taken over by bandits. Even the state’s immediate predecessor government reported these atrocities to the press on a quarterly basis. Thousands of our people, especially women and children, are becoming internally displaced. Generally, it is women and children who suffer the most from such evacuations.
“It is true that the previous government did not show much sympathy or interest in helping us against these evils that befell our people. We did not get a good deal at all. Of the 12 local governments, we believe that Kachia, Kajuru and Chikun are the worst affected at the hands of kidnappers, with women and children being the main targets.
“Specifically, I would like to draw the attention of Governor Uba Sani to the horrific incident that occurred in Kachuwe near Sarkinpawa in Niger State on October 2, 2021.” Their village in Chikun After being repeatedly attacked and attacked by bandits, they decided to move to Kachuwe, where they believed it would be safer, and start a new life in farming.
“Unfortunately, on October 2, 2021, armed bandits attacked a village and killed 13 adult men and one girl. Among those killed were my grandfather, Baba Barda. Kariya was also included.The remaining names are Ali Nariya, Zachariah Nariya, Markus Nariya, John Nariya, and Haruna Nariya. The others include Iko Ali, Vincent Ali, Amos Zakaria, Habila Zakaria, Sumaris Marx, Timothy John, Victor Marx, and Godiya Marx, the only woman killed.
“After committing a crime, they plundered food and animals from the village.
Then they burned down the village. They saved the lives of old women and sick old people. Then they I took the female and her children with me. Grace Ali (25 years old), Kauna Ali. (22 years old). Murna Ali (18), Tera Ali (3), Rahila Shagari (18), Sunday Zakaria (17), Leonard Zakaria (10), Lucy Zakaria (11), Blessing Zacharias (13 years old), Charles Haruna (10 years old).
