*Says attacks aimed at taking over their lands
*Tells natives to defend themselves
By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna
The Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA), in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State has called on the attention of the world and people of goodwill to know that the systematic attacks, killings and burning going on in Atyap by armed militias with the collaboration of local Fulani, aided and sheltered by the Hausa community in Zangon Urban, is all aimed at taking over their land.
The Atyap people vowed to resist with the last drop of their blood, calling on their people to exercise their natural, fundamental and constitutional right of self defence against any further unprovoked attacks.
Addressing newsmen in Samaru, Zangon Kataf, the President, Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA),
Dr. Samuel T. Achi said that it has become imperative to notify Nigerians and the international communities at large, on the persistent and recurring attacks and killings in some communities of Atyap land by armed Fulani herdsmen who have enjoyed decades of peaceful coexistence with their communities, but have now set out on a mission to displace these communities and take over the lands.
He lamented renewed attacks in Ungwan Wakili, Lagson, Atakjei and Runji where about 70 people have been killed, including a 5-year old boy who was beheaded, saying that as at the last count, 20 villages have been displaced, 18 villages burnt down, while 518 people killed with thousands of victims who have taken refuge across many communities from 2017 till date.
The President explained, “The Military personnel drafted to provide security in the area are not helping matters. Instead of performing their primary assignment of securing all lives and properties of the communities, they are selective by taking side with the herdsmen. This is evident in the 2023 First Quarter Security Report presented to the Kaduna State Government by the Sector Commander, Operation Safe Haven in Southern Kaduna, Brigadier General Timothy Opurum on the recent killings in Atyap land.”
He further explained that in Brigadier General Timothy Opurum “doctored submission”, he gave an unbalanced, lopsided report and was very economical with facts that prompted Governor Nasir el-Rufai to note with concern the continued failure of the traditional and community leaders in Zangon Kataf Chiefdom to prevent resort to self-help by recalcitrant youth.
He alleged that the Sector Commander, Brigadier General Timothy Opurum, deliberately failed, neglected and/or refused to highlight the contributions of the Traditional Council in Atyap land towards maintaining peace in the chiefdom, saying that the facts are known to him and other security agencies in the area that the report did not convey the positive role played so far by the traditional council and other community leaders in dissipating the conflicts.
Dr. Achie said the contributions of the traditional council include visiting all homes of victims of attacks and killings in Atyap land, sponsoring of conferences/workshops on peaceful co-existence for Atyap, Hausa and Fulani youth, women and security operatives in Atyap land, international and national peace advocates like Dr. Salim Musa, Barr. Priscilla Ankut all aimed towards the sustenance of peaceful coexistence in the area.
Following the peace moves made by the Atyap people, he stated that Governor Nasir el-Rufai, had on many occasions, commended the Agwatyap for the bold and practical actions towards maintaining peace in Atyap land as reported in some national dailies like The Sun Nigeria of 25th August 2020; Daily Trust of 28th August 2020; and The Cable (online) of 25th August 2020. We were taken aback when we heard his comment after the Sector Commander’s report.
He lamented, “Brig. Gen. Opurum deliberately refused to see and state the known facts that the influx of many dangerous lawless Fulani terrorists into Zangon Kataf Urban Hausa settlement and their attendant criminal activities in the last 3 years as responsible for the brutal attacks on mostly innocent and defenseless women and children in Atyap villages.”
He added that the Sector Commander’s presentation to Governor El-Rufai consciously ignored the fact that it is only in Zangon Kataf Urban Hausa settlement that lawless and dangerous Fulani migrant terrorists are harbored by their Hausa host in Zangon Kataf LGA with their attendant criminal activities spreading to our villages as the major reason attacks are predominantly in our Chiefdom.
“It is a known fact among security agencies in our Atyap land that most attacks on our villages and people are planned and coordinated by these Fulani terrorists in Zangon Kataf Urban Hausa settlement. However, for reasons best known to him, the Sector Commander instead of calling a spade a spade chose to dwell on unproven allegation of cow poisoning by unidentified alleged Atyap persons and places in order to blackmail the Atyap and appease his pay masters.
“His Excellency and security agencies should direct and ensure the evacuation of these migrant terrorists Fulani to where they came from, as was done with Almajiris, and attacks in Atyap land will be a thing of the past. This is the practice in an exclusively Fulani settlement of Laduga in Zangon Kataf of Kaduna State. Why this has not happened so far beats our imagination and we wonder what the Federal and State Governments seek to achieve by not ordering this. Could this be a confirmation of a planned genocide on Atyap race?
“The Sector Commander raised the issue of the killing of a young Fulani boy in Ungwan Juju [Ma Juju] which was highly condemned by all of us in the Chiefdom. His Highness, the ACDA and the District Head of the area met, condoled the parents of the boy and pleaded with the Fulani not to attack innocent people in the guise of vengeance as everything was to be done to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
“The world should note that the Brigadier General knows that before the unfortunate and criminal killing of that boy, Samaila Jacob was murdered on the 15/02/2023 and Musa Bako in the same month from the same Ung. Juju by some Fulani. In fact, his men were part of the people that evacuated the corpses. Why were these gruesome murders not reported by the Sector Commander in his report? We do not understand why the Sector Commander opted to be economical with the fact in Ung. Juju.
“The Sector Commander alleged that the poisoning of over 70 cows was responsible for the renewed attacks, killing and burning of Atyap and their properties by Fulani. This came to us as a surprise because he knows of a standing agreement in Atyap land that any proven case of cow poisoning against any community, such community shall be responsible for replacing such cows. In the same coin the owner of any cows that destroys any farm shall bear full responsibility for such destruction. With this agreement, it was mischief of the highest order at work when the Brig. General justified the murder, killing and burning of innocent and armed less Atyap women, children and men and their properties on the basis of false allegations of cow poisoning.
“Furthermore, the cattle allegedly poisoned were from Zangon Kataf Urban settlement only, while those of the Fulani living in our villages are not affected. It will interest the world to know that it is the Hausa in Zangon Kataf Urban settlement that engage in dry season farming and the Fulani cattle are fond of destroying their farms around the river. One particular case in question around the General Hospital, Zangon Kataf where 7 cows ate spinach (Alehu) from a Hausa farm and died but was alleged that it was Kataf people that did that.
“The Sector Commander was not saying the truth when he reported that the killings in Ung. Wakili were at the outskirt of the village. In fact the killings were carried out right inside their homes neigboring the security post at Ung. Wakili. The discovering of blood stained military uniforms and suspected military personnel involvement prompted a meeting between the Zangon Kataf Local Government Council Chairman, the Traditional Council and the Military Command from Jos which led to the immediate transfer of two suspected military personnel. This is a confirmation that Brig. Gen. Opurum has compromised the security in Atyapland.
“It is also surprising for the Brig. General to say that the attack in Runji (Sankwab) was due to the hostility of the youths from the area. However, he ignored to report that 3 days before the Runji attack, a man by name Sunday Ibrahim Takaichi was attacked and killed by the same Fulani grazing in Runji. On sighting the villagers coming to give a helping hand, they ran away leaving their cattle. The cattle were evacuated by the soldiers to aid their investigation of the murder of Sunday. It is most unfortunate that the outcome of this investigation was not reported by the Sector Commander till date.”
