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Southern Kaduna: Groups, lawmakers indict federal, state govts for killings
We, the APC voted in Buhari because he was a (major) general but we are disappointed…we have asked the president to sack the service chiefs, but no
BY NICHOLAS ABE
Reactions have continued to trail the incessant killings of Nigerians in the southern part of Kaduna State, by armed militias and other criminal gangs.
So far, no fewer than 60 persons are believed to have been killed in renewed violence that has enveloped the area, in the last two weeks.
The latest was on Saturday morning when unidentified militiamen attacked three communities in Jema’a and Kaura local government areas of Kaduna State and killed at least nine people.
The lawmaker representing Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency, Kaduna, in the House of Representatives, Gabriel Saleh criticised the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government for the killings, faulting the federal government on its handling of security issues.
“So, I feel the Federal Government has failed Nigeria. Our people are crying and suffering, over 40 people were killed in less than two weeks,” Saleh said while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday.
“We, the APC voted in Buhari because he was a (major) general but we are disappointed…we have asked the president to sack the service chiefs, but no,” he added.
The caucus of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna State House of Assembly, on Sunday, tackled the federal and state governments for failing to end the incessant attacks and killings.The lawmakers said they were embarrassed with the spate of killings in the area despite the deployment of security agencies.
Minority Leader, Barrister Emmanuel Kantiok, described the killings as worrisome.
He explained that as elected lawmakers from Southern Kaduna, they were saddened by the government’s attitude towards ending the attacks.
“It’s on record that since the inception of this administration in 2015, Southern Kaduna has not known peace as a result of incessant attacks by armed militia with the resultant loss of lives and properties.
“The attitude and response of both the state and the federal government to these attacks and killings clearly speaks volumes of the understanding or willingness of government to discharge the primary responsibility to the people of Southern Kaduna and the state at large,” he said.
In the same vein, the Southern and Middle Belt Forum, also on Sunday, expressed outrage over the killing of 63 persons in Southern Kaduna with a demand that President Buhari should bring the perpetrators to justice.
The body also faulted the recent comments by the presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on the killings, describing it as irresponsible.
The SMBF’s position was contained in a statement by Yinka Odumakin (South-West), Chief Guy Ikokwu (South-East), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South) and Dr Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt).
Shehu had, in a statement, claimed that the killings in Southern Kaduna were politically-motivated and orchestrated by criminal gangs.
The SMBF said: “We call on the Buhari’s government to immediately stop the killings, bring the perpetrators to justice and stop making statements to justify the killings and deceiving the world about the situation in the area. Only bloody-minded people will refuse to heed this advice now. It is quite worrisome that the orgy of killing has continued in spite of the curfew imposed by the state government.
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“Instead of the Buhari-led Federal Government of Nigeria stepping in to find a lasting solution in the midst of tardiness by the state government, it is unfortunate that it has resorted to provocative statements. These are not responsible statements from any government in the midst of the body bags being counted daily by the people of Southern Kaduna.”
While warning the military against taking sides with the killers, the Middle Belt Forum said it would continue to work with Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the South-South Leaders Forum and other socio-cultural bodies in Southern Nigeria to bring about the required restructuring of the country.
Meanwhile, the Muslim Youth Foundation of Southern Kaduna (MYFOSKA) at the weekend alleged series of isolated killings of their members who were either on transit or in the process of carrying out their legitimate business in parts of Southern Kaduna.
The group in a statement issued by its National Chairman, Mohammed Kabir Bello, stated that Muslims have found themselves in the middle of a guerrilla attack and silent killings in different parts of Southern Kaduna.
“Whenever there is a rumour of any form of attack in the area, the Muslims become victims, roadblocks will be mounted and any Muslim on transit will be killed,” he said.
The group said five people were ambushed and killed in July including the former Secretary to the District Head of Dangoma, Sallau Musa, who was killed while on his way from Kafanchan to Dangoma on July 22, 2020. “This brings the total number of more than 100 people killed while on transit since 2016,” the group said.