By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Normalcy has returned to Runji Sakwab Community in Atyap Chiefdom of Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State after the mass burial of 33 persons killed by bandits on Saturday Night.
It was gathered that the 33 persons were gruesomely murdered in their sleep and their houses set ablaze while 19 of the corpses were burnt beyond recognition.
Speaking at the mass burial ceremony, the Local Government Chairman, Mr. Francis Sani Zimbo expressed shock over the incident, saying it was an unprovoked attack on the people.
He said Runji Sankwab is the third community in series of attacks within a span of less than 30 days in the Atyap communities and the local government area has held several security meetings to unveil reasons and possible solutions to why the carnage was going on but to no avail.
According to Mr. Zimbo, the local government’s hands are tied because there is no option left for them except to seek for solutions and help outside their scope through the help of the media.
The National President, Atyap Community Development Association Comrade Timbwak Samuel Achie, called on the whole Atyap community to unite and defend themselves whenever faced with such genocidal threats.
He also appealed for assistance from Nigerians and international bodies for the affected persons because about 40 of their houses were burnt to ashes, while valuables and food items were also destroyed.
Performing the mass burial rites, the Local Government Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop Jacob Kwashi, urged government to live up to its responsibility of protecting lives and property.
Bishop Kwashi therefore, prayed for the repose of the souls of those that died and prayed for quick recovery of those who sustained various degrees of injuries and are in critical conditions.
Reacting to the incident, the State Police Public Relations Officer DSP Mohammed Jalige said men of the security operatives have since been deployed to the area to ensure such carnage does not reoccur.
