- We lost 33 kinsmen -SOKAPU
SUNRISE NEWS, Lagos, Aug. 7, 2020 – The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed 21 persons killed in the Wednesday night attacks on four villages in Atyab Chiefdom, Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhammad Jalige told The Nation that, 21 persons were killed by unidentified armed men while three others were injured between Wednesday night and Thursday morning Apiashyim, Kibori, Apiako, Atakmawei and Magamiya.
The Police said, no arrest has been made in connection with the crime but, surveillance has been intensified around the affected villages.
But mouthpiece of Southern Kaduna, the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) in a statement by its Spokesman, Luka Binniyat, puts the figure of the dead at 33.
According to Binniyat, “last night (Wednesday) 33 Atyap natives, who were among hundreds of thousands of already starving indigenes under a 24-hour curfew that was 65 days yesterday, were killed in five Atyap villages in Atyap Chiefdom, Zangon Kataf LGA in Southern part of Kaduna state by Fulani militia.
“Prior to now, they were all shutdown with fierce armed military men patrolling and enforcing the 24-hour curfew. But when the gunmen struck, they were not on ground.
“Four Atyap youths from Majuju, and Kibori villages who went to farm under the curfew were arrested by soldiers after being thoroughly beaten and handed over to the Police who whisked them to SCID, Kaduna. They have been denied bail since 26th Jue, 2020.
“Last night, around 11 pm, trucks loads of armed Fulani militia made their way through military checkpoints under the curfew and stormed Apiashyim and Kibori villages. They lay siege to Apyaishyim killing, looting and burning houses. In the wake of the cruelty, they left six people dead, and 20 houses burnt.
“In nearby Kibori village, 7 persons were killed by the marauding, pampered Fulani militia.
“Around 12 am, they struck Atakmawei sleeping community and carried out another carnage after which 12 persons were killed and ten houses burnt.
“They also went to Apyiako and killed 3 people, and burnt homes, including the home of late Col. Bobai Ishaku among others.
“At the same time, Magamiya village was also attacked and 5 people killed and seven houses burnt. The attacker operated between 11 pm and 4 am this morning before they left unchallenged.
“For the records, we want to say that Governor Nasir El-Rufai has tied up our law-abiding people under an irrational, protracted curfew which is obviously intended to cause maximum harm to our communities. For example, we are inundated by daily cries for food, medicine and money, with rising cases of child malnutrition and kwashiorkor as parents cannot go out and look for food for their starving children”, the statement read.
A resident of Atak’mawei village in Zamandabo ward, Irimiya Gandu, had earlier told said no fewer than 13 persons were killed and many houses razed in his community.
According to him, “around 1:00am, I was already asleep when I heard the sound of gunshots. I stepped out from our compound we could hear the sound of gunshots from Apia’akum Community and far Kibori village were already under attack. I rushed into my house and brought out my families and ran to a safer place.
“So far, 13 persons are killed mostly Children and women. We are still looking for more. Many houses were burnt also,” he said.
Also, a survivor from Apia’ahko village, Samson Alat said, an aged man, a little child and youth were killed when armed armed men invaded the village. “They burnt the house of late Col. Bobai and five important houses and stole from the village,” he said.
According to him, “soldiers came on motor bikes and an armoured tank, but they could not stop these wicked people. We were hiding inside maize farm and we saw them. This was around 1am last night. We are still looking for more missing people,” he said.
- The Nation