Miyyeti Allah attributes Kaduna crisis to displacement of herders, others
Miyyeti Allah attributes Kaduna crisis to displacement of herders, others
By Eloyi Matthew
Miyyeti Allah has attributed the communal crisis and continuing killings in Atyap Chiefdom, Zangon Kataf local government of Kaduna state to the wanton killings of Fulani herdsmen in Gora Gan on July 7, burning of their houses and their displacement.
The chairman, Kaduna state chapter Miyyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Alhaji Haruna Usman Tugga, in a statement on Friday accused Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) of killing defenceless Fulani herdsmen and members of their families.
The statement read in part, “We are all aware, violent conflicts have been ongoing in many of the villages in Atyap Chiefdom of Zangon Kataf local government. Based on the information available to our association, the trigger for the present round of disturbances emanated from the attack on a family by unknown bandits in Gora Gan village of the Chiefdom on July 7, 2021.
“As is characteristic of the misinformed youth, attacks on cattle rearers followed the unfortunate event. While security agencies moved swiftly to contain the violence around Gora Gan and adjoining villages, there was mobilisation of Atyap youths by some ethnic chauvinists among the Atyap ethnic community and other non-peace-loving organisations that resulted in attacks on Fulani settlements throughout the Chiefdom.
“Within a few days, all the houses of the Fulani in the Chiefdom were burnt by mobs in broad daylight. An unconfirmed number of Fulani pastoralists were also killed. The surviving victims of the arson are now internally displaced and scattered around in neigbouring local governments of Kaura, Kauru, Lere, Jema’a and Kachia.
“It is against this background that we found a press statement issued by the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) most surprising. We are shocked at the sources of their information, and for retorting to total blackmail against the victims of aggression. People whose households were completely burnt, who scampered to safety leaving behind all possessions could be accused of perpetuating violence.”
