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By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Mutual destruction of human and material resources have been reported on both sides of the conflicts, as terrorism and counter terrorism war rage in Southern part of Kaduna state.
Fulani herders group, under the umbrella of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), in a release Tuesday, said it has lost over ten members including an infant, the body also alleged that Ninty-nine cattle belonging to it members have either been poisoned or missing.
Earlier, the umbrella body of Atyap nation, the Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA), on Monday, in Kaduna decried killings of it people in their communities by terrorists, who allegedly, enjoy military cover, saying they move their cattle freely armed with AK-47 rifles.
While the leadership of the Fulani claimed they were being massacred by the Atyap youths militia in Zango-Kataf Local Government Area of the state, the Atyap community insisted that they were being killed by Fulani militia allegedly with backing of government, in their counter and counter allegations.
According to the Chairman of the MACBAN, in a release in Kaduna, Alhaji Haruna Tugga, said in spite of peace efforts embarked upon by communities and the government, the killings of his members by the Atyap youths continued unabated.
He said between January 22 and February 2, 2022, no fewer than 10 Fulani herders, including a one-year-old infant, were killed, and 99 cattles either poisoned or missing.
While expressing concerns over the increasing wave of violent attacks on his members, the MACBAN boss appealed to the state government and security agents to wake up to its constitutional responsibilities of safeguarding lives and property of all herders in the southern part of the state.
Tugga made the call
In a statement titled, “Resurgence of violence in parts of Southern Senatorial zone of Kaduna State,” made available to journalists in Kaduna, the MACBAN boss said, “On January 24, 2022, at Kizaga Village in Kauru Local Government Area, two Fulani herders were attacked by some armed Kataf youths from Kurmin- Masara village of Zango-Kataf Local Government Area.
“They were killed instantly and one other (20-year-old Ya’u Abubakar) was beheaded while the corpse of 30-year-old Adamu Usman 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 boy (Bilal Bukar) who was inside one of the burnt houses.
“On January 29, 2022, in Gankon village of Gora District, armed Atyap (Kataf) youths attacked 19-year-old Zakari Laulo rearing his cows and lynched him to death.”
Tugga further listed other cases of violence unleashed on members of his group allegedly by Atyap youths.
However, the Atyap development association had during a press conference Tuesday accused Fulani militia of killing and burning the houses of their members in Southern Kaduna.
President of Atyap association, comrade Samuel Achie, in a statement titled “The ongoing carnage in Atyap land since the early hours of Sunday, January 30, 2022,” said more than 11 of his members were killed by Fulani militia while over 30 houses were burnt and over 100 people displaced.
He said, “Since January 17, 2021, many lives and innumerable property have been destroyed in villages like Abuyab, Mazaki, Mawakili, Takjei, Matache, Matagama, Gora Gan, Kurmin Masara and Atisa. On Sunday, January 30, 2022, 11 people were murdered by the terrorists; many were wounded, over 30 houses burnt and over 100 people displaced.
“On Monday, January 31, 2022, Atisa Village in (Kurmin Masara) was attacked and five lives lost and eight houses burnt”.