Gentlemen of the press, good day
We are here to alert the general public and constituted authorities about the criminal and inhuman industrial scale Guerrilla attack on innocent Muslims, who are either on transit, or in the process of carryout their legitimate business has being going on in Southern Kaduna for quite some time now.
Recently we have received with shock another series of unwarranted guerrilla attack and silent killings of our Muslim brothers and sisters at different location in Southern Kaduna. Some of the ugly incidents are enumerated below to inform the general public on the true happenings in southern Kaduna and also for the security agencies concern to take the necessary actions.
Gambo Magaji (Mechanic) narrated that on Monday, 20th July, 2020 on their way to Kafanchan from Kaduna they were attacked in Zonkwa by armed youth. Their driver was short but escaped to Samaru Kataf, where military check point is located. While they were there, another vehicle which they identified it as the Sharon which they left at Kaduna loading stopped. They asked the driver about his passengers but answered that he was forced to drop them in Zonkwa. We don’t know what happen to the Muslims on board and other vehicles carrying Muslims that must have passed through the town that night.
Sale Adamu aged 26 was attacked and killed at Unguwan Katsit, Kafanchan on Wednesday, 22nd July, 2020. He and other motorist met some armed Christian youth who barricaded the main road to Kafanchan protesting on a rumour that Fulani attacked some areas around Unguwan Masara. The story turned to be mere fabrication by some mischievous peoples whom we suspect planned to cause crisis in the town. Many people who were stopped with Sale turned back and escaped but Sale failed to run as his motorcycle could not start. His remain is yet to be recovered.
Sulaiman Ado Jagindi left his home town Jagindi to Kafanchan on Wednesday, 22nd July, 2020 around 4:00 pm and his whereabouts could not be traced until the following day. He was found around Gidan Waya forest unconscious with injuries all over his body. He was rushed to a hospital in Jagindi and later recovered. He narrated the ordeal he passed through. According to him, the car he followed from Jagindi stopped at Maraban Kagoro and he took another one that was going to Kafanchan at the roundabout. On their way he noticed sudden diversion from the main road to Kafanchan and he attempted to resist but overpowered by the youth he met in the car. He was taken to an unknown place where he met some other Muslims who were also locked up in one room. Their mission was apparently to kill them one-by-one because one of the victims was slaughtered in his presence. That made him to struggle and succeeded in breaking the door and found his way into the bush. He was pursued by the people guarding the place but escaped with injuries in his body.
Imrana Yahaya and Muhammadu (Modu) on the same Wednesday (22/07/2020) left Zango town for Kafanchan to withdraw cash from ATM machine. Their families informed us that they followed Maniya, Tum (the backyard of our present serving senator) through Madakiya where they were suspected to have been whisked away by Christian militias and their bodies were discovered already decomposing.
Musa Sallau (secretary to the Dangoma District Head) was also attacked and killed on the spot on his way from Kafanchan to Dangoma, his home town at Takau 1 on the same Wednesday 22nd as mentioned by an eye witness who narrowly escaped being attacked. Up till now his remain could not be found.
Muhammadu Gidado, was shot while rearing his cows behind Unguwan Masara, Kafanchan. The incident happened around 4.15pm on 23rd July, 2020. He escaped and was later referred to Kaduna after receiving first aid treatment in Kafanchan.
Our Observations
It is imperative to note that above criminal incidences and the previous ones reported and many more guerilla killings of Muslims that were mentioned in our petitioned to the state government dated 13th September 2013. The Muslim Youth Foundation of Southern Kaduna wishes the general public and constituted authorities to take note of the following facts:
The Muslims in the towns and villages of southern Kaduna who constitute about 40% of the population had never moved out of their areas to launch any form of attack or intimidate other non-Muslims in their neighborhood.
Christians of southern Kaduna extraction live in other parts of the state, country and indeed the world under comfort and hospitality of their hosts who sometimes are Muslims and as far as we know they do not suffer any form of harassment, intimidation or attack.
It is also observed that whenever there is a rumour of any form of crises in the area, illegal roadblocks are mounted to ambush innocent Muslims on transit were identified fished out and killed in cold blood.
It is also very disappointing that whenever Muslim communities in southern Kaduna are attacked and killed, the Christian traditional rulers, religious elders and political elites keep mute or even ignore the crime as if Muslim lives are valueless. But on contrary, a slightest provocation on their anointed people by unknown persons received exaggerated comments and press conferences and submissions at the state and national assemblies.
The perpetrators and sponsors of these dastardly act against Muslim in the area always go unpunished even when after a committee of inquiry and investigations found them guilty.
Our Prayers
It is the responsibility of any government to ensure that the lives and properties of people are protected. We therefore call on the governments at all levels to live up to their expectations and respond quickly to dismantle any illegal roadblocks and halt any attack against passerby.
The sponsors and perpetrators of these killings should be traced and be brought to book to serve as deterrent to others.
Political elites, religious leaders and elders of southern Kaduna should stop playing politics with the life of the Muslims in the zone.
We commend and support the effort by the Kaduna state to draft a white paper on the two reports of committees of enquiry and reconciliation on Zangon Kataf crisis of 1992. This gestures should be extended to other reports of inquiries set up by previous governments.
Conclusions
The persistent crisis in Southern Kaduna resulted in rendering our members to be the victims who lost many family members, neighbours, friends and compatriots, in addition to valuable properties. We had often felt betrayed and have been disgusted by the action of some reckless and conscienceless political elites who fed fat on our misery; playing dirty propaganda to our perils. If such persons cannot lessen our burdens or promotes sustainable co-existence in the area, they should please not compound it. The victims deserve empathy and rehabilitation from the government rather than insults from some over exuberant self-appointed political leaders and elected representatives who are supposedly Public Servants.
Thanking you for patiently reading our submission.
K. M. Bello
National Chairman
