Southern Kaduna killings : Atyap Bent on Exterminating Us – Miyetti Allah5 min read

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association ( MACBAN) in Kaduna State has alleged that Atyap youth in Southern Kaduna were bent on exterminating the Fulani and their Cattle in the area.

But leaders of the Atyap communities in the state said it was the Fulani militia that wanted to take over their land violently. 

The leadership of MACBAN therefore, appealed to the government and security agencies to come to their rescue. 

The Association sued for calm amongst the surviving Fulani  and expressed dismay over the resurgence of violence in that part of Southern Kaduna Senatorial Zone.

Alhaji Haruna Usman Tugga, Chairman of MACBAN, in a statement, explained that “as we are all aware, there was consistent efforts by Communities, NGOs and the Government of the state to ensure peace and Security, especially in the Southern Senatorial Zone. As a result of these efforts, the area was witnessing relative peace.”

“We therefore thought that the much desired peace and mutual understanding in the Southern  Senatorial District of Kaduna State between Fulani Pastoralists, and other tribes will be sustained. “

“In spite of their efforts in so many communities, Zango – kataf Atyap (Kataf) Chiefdom in particular has always been a dangerous flash point as the brutalities against the Fulani Pastoralists continued unabated.”

“However, that does not mean that there are no incidents and reports of various inhumanities  deployed against our people is not happening in other sections of Southern Kaduna.”

“Sadly , from the middle of last year to the present day, those working against peace began to ignite  violent atrocities on the Fulani Pastoralists, which has now led to the death of many people,  particularly in Atyap (Kataf) Chiefdom of Zango -Kataf and Kagoro Chiefdom of Kaura Local Government Areas.”

“They were killed instantly and one was beheaded in person of (Ya’u Abubakar Twenty 20 years) old while the remains of Adamu Usman Thirty(30) years) old was  later found within the area. They also advanced to the houses of the Fulanis and burnt down several houses to ashes while also killing a one year old Baby  Boy (Bilal Bukar) who was in one of the burnt houses.”

“On 29th January, 2022, In Gankon village of Gora District, armed Atyap (Kataf) youths attacked a 19 year old Boy Zakari Laulo who was rearing his cows andlynched him to death.”

“On 22nd January, 2022, 8 Cows of Alhaji Momarwa died after drinking poisoned water in the village of Zunuruk in Jema’a Local Government Area respectively. On the 25th January, 2022, a young and innocent Aminu Dahiru was attacked  and killed instantly in the same village of Zunuruk. After Killing him they attacked  41 cows.”

“On the same 25th January, the Kagoro youth, advanced forward to attack two innocent youths Abubakar Musa and Adamu Para were severely injured and they were treated at Kafanchan General Hospital.”

“Primitively, on 31st January, 2022, one Aminu Ahmad, a young family man went to supervise his cattle on the hills of Kagoro but went missing within the axis of Tson-Jei and Kukum Gida in Kagoro Chiefdom.”

“On 1st February, 2022, (16) belonging to Alhaji Momarwa were shot dead at Tson-jei village by the same Kagoro youths. The whereabouts of 22 cows is yet  to be known. On 2nd February, 2022, twelve(12) cows were discovered killed in the village  of Tson-jei belonging to Alhaji Momarwa.”

“Our prayers: We are appealing to the pastoralists communities to remain calm  and be law abiding.We are appealing to the Kaduna State Government and Security Agencies to rise up to their Constitutional responsibilities by investigating and fishing out the perpetrators of these crimes against the citizens.”

“We are similarly appealing to all the peace loving people affected in the affected areas to put all their hands on deck in order to restore peace and tranquility in the area.”

Earlier, Chairman of the Atyap Community Development Association, Daniel Achie said a press conference that the  on-going carnage of killings, maiming, destruction and displacement of communities was  being perpetrated on the Atyap land by forces of the Fulani terrorist militia. 

He said “while we have remained resolute in pursuing the peace initiated by our paramount ruler, HRH Sir Dominic Yahaya Gambo and other sons and daughters of the land, the enemies of peace keep inflicting pains by invading our villages and killing our people at will and getting away with it”. ?.

“The unfortunate thing is that at any time there is a peace meeting with either government officials, representatives of Fulani organizations or the NGOs to try and advance the peace process, the next will be an attack on the land by the Fulani terrorist militias, who subsequently vanish without any trace of their whereabouts. “

“The ability of the attacking terrorists to disappear without trace appears surprising. We call on the security forces to step up and show commitment to end the killings, to protect the lives and properties of the citizens.

“Members of the Press would recall that it was in this hall I categorically stated that we are better up staying peacefully together than fighting and killing ourselves over ancestral heritage. Hence the escalating violence against the Atyap communities continues to beat human imagination. With the deliberate perpetuation of violence against the Atyap Chiefdom and communities in Zangon Kataf Local Government area of Kaduna State, the lives of citizens have been reduced to nothing in the land, and the lives and properties of our people are being obliterated at will by those that feel they are protected and can do whatever they want with human lives and go free. 

After my last Press Release and update on the happenings in Atyap land on 17/07/2021, many lives and innumerable properties have been destroyed in villages like Abuyab, Mazaki, Mawakili, Takjei, Matache, Matagama, Gora Gan, Kurmin Masara and Atisa. On Sunday 30th January 2022, 11 people were brutally murdered by Fulani terrorist militia forces, many were wounded, over 30 houses burned and over 100 people displaced. Again, on Monday 31st January 2022, Atisa village in (Kurmin Masara) was attacked and 5 lives lost and 8 houses burned down too. even in the presence of the security check points in Bakin Kogi and Ashaawuce both less than a kilometer from the scene, some people from the area are still missing and unaccounted for.”

“This again has aggravated the humanitarian crisis in the land, thereby making life unbearable to the peace loving citizens of Atyap land.

In several meetings and in particular during one of our visits at the invitation of His Excellency the Governor of Kaduna State, Mal. Nasiru El-Rufai, he publicly applauded the efforts of HRH the Agwatyap on the efforts to sustain the peace initiative and the high respect he had for the paramount ruler. Despite all this, His Royal Highness and the the Atyap nation have been left alone to carry their cross for reasons best known to the government.

“In that same visit, His Excellency did give a deadline that by December 2021, if peace was not restored in Atyap land that he would withdraw all the security operatives. Given the obvious abandonment of the Atyap communities to their fate in the hands of violent and murderous terrorists armed to the teeth with sophisticated weapons. I sincerely feel it is time His Excellency call on the security apparatus for a review of strategy and possible changes where possible. I have said it before and I will say it again, that the entire Atyap nation has resolved that not an inch of our land will be taken for whatsoever purpose by the enemies of peace and good neighborliness in our community.”

“From what is transpiring, it has become obvious that the Fulani Terrorist Militias Forces andtheir sponsors feel they can take over Atyap despite the presence of government,” he said.