Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State is boiling again as trouble is brewing which may result in further escalation of crises that may threaten the whole state and even beyond.
In the last three decades, any time Zangon Kataf is mentioned, some persons must have lost their lives, many injured and properties destroyed. Hang on Kataf got prominence in violent killings in 1992, Zango Urban settlement was destroyed in it’s inhabitants were slaughtered, burnt and served to dogs and pigs, and others left to rot because no one dared to go there for burials.
Even though the government made efforts to punish those found guilty, the efforts were scuttled as some of those found guilty are walking freely today.
In the 2011 election violence the Muslim communities in Zangon Kataf and Zonkwa we’re massacred more than any group in the Nigerian history. Those who were lucky to survive we’re force out of the area to begin life afresh somewhere. The government of that day arrested no one let alone prosecute and punish them accordingly. Those who lost their loved ones and properties were never compensated till date.
In the last two weeks the drums for more violence are sounding louder and sending signals to the decerning minds.
Military operativesRecall that the Southetn Kaduna People’s Union, SOKAPU, was calling the United Nations, UN, the African Union, AU, the CommonWealth of nations to establish a base so that they give them protection against attacks from their enemies.
SOKAPU was out again accusing the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF of supporting the perpetrators of the attacks on their communities.
Gov El Rufai, Gov of Kaduna State
&But on Tuesday, the Atyap people of Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State have appealed to the Federal Government and Kaduna State Government to take proactive measures towards ending the incessant killings and destruction of properties in the area.
The people, dressed in black attire, stage a peaceful protest on Tuesday at Zonkwa, headquarters of Zangon Kataf LGA, carrying placards with various inscriptions demanding an end to the killings in Atyap land and withdrawal of soldiers whom they alleged had taken sides with their killers.
They marched from Samaru Kataf to the local government secretariat in Zbonkwa, to present their demands to the local government Council chairman, Francis Sani Zimbo.
A statement issued by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Chairman, Yabo Chris Ephraim, explained that the protesters took turns to deliver their message to the council chairman, saying that their aim is to draw the attention of the world, the federal and state governments to the genocide going on in their ancestral lands.
They appealed to government to be sensitive to their plight, alleging that they have been left to the mercy of their killers whom they said have been on a killing spree with the support of the military.
Sen Uba Sani, Governor – elect, Kaduna State
The council chairman of Zangon Kataf Local Government Council, Francis Sani Zimbo, who was on ground to address the protesters, sued for peace and calm, assuring the protesters that all legal means are being exploited to bring an end to the killings in parts of the local government area.
He assured the protesters that their message was loud and clear and would get to Governor Nasir el-Rufai for appropriate measures to be taken towards ensuring peaceful coexistence in the area
But the Atyap community faulted the security report on the recent killings in the area by the Sector Commander, Operation Safe Haven in Southern Kaduna, Brigadier General Timothy Opurum, saying his report was biased, lopsided, unbalanced and misleading.
“The persistent attacks on Atyap land are likened to those of 2019 and are the handwork of some criminal elements in our midst that need to be apprehended and punished in accordance with the provisions of our criminal law by the security agencies.
“We hereby call 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 the local Fulani, aided and sheltered by the Hausa community in Zangon Urban, is all aimed at taking over our land which we shall resist with the last drop of our blood.
“We call on our people to exercise their natural, fundamental and constitutional right of self-defence against any further unprovoked attacks. Enough is enough. We also want to make it very clear that henceforth any attack on any of our communities will attract a total no-go area for rearing cows.
“We call on the incoming administration to strive to ensure inclusive governance and improve security and development in Atyap land and many other areas ravaged by killings in the state. We are still hopeful that one day, we will still live together with our brothers, the Hausa and the Fulani in our land as it has always been.
“We believe the Governor was misled by the biased, shallowed and lopsided briefing of the outgoing Sector Commander. However, our balanced and objective narration, laced with logical facts as they occurred above, clearly shows that the traditional rulership and community leaders in Atyap land are working very hard to maintain peace.
“We have no option than to believe that it is the biased report of Brigadier General Opurum that made His Excellency suddenly change gear. This notwithstanding, our outgoing Governor should know that as the Chief Security Officer of Kaduna State, which includes Atyap land, he has the duty to secure the lives and property of residents of the State. He should therefore not transfer his failure to secure lives and property to traditional rulers in the State. His Excellency cannot abdicate his responsibilities.
“Recently, Atyap land has dominated the headlines for the wrong reasons following renewed attacks in Ungwan Wakili, Lagson, Atakjei and Runji where 70 people have been killed, including a 5-year-old boy who was beheaded. As of 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 Military personnel drafted to provide security in the area are not helping matters. Instead of performing their primary assignment of securing all lives and property of the communities, they are selective by taking sides 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.
“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, which facts are known to him and other security agencies in the area. The report did not convey the positive role played so far by the Traditional Council and other community leaders in dissipating the conflicts.
“However, the Governor in demonstrating his appreciation and act of goodwill, promised to cede to the Agwatyap’s demand to; construct the road linking Ungwan Wakili to Kwaku and Gora, as well as the road linking Zango, Tangjei and Ungwan Jaba, including Zangon Urban roads. He also promised to construct a bridge linking Gidan Zaki and Manyi Agwhui, owing to the Agwatyap’s leadership role in initiating peace in his Chiefdom.
“No doubt, the Atyap people still look forward to the Governor fulfilling these promises even as a parting gift, as he prepares his handing over notes on May 29, 2023. And without mincing words, it should be noted for the records that the Atyap land is yet to benefit any project by the State Government.
