Govt Has Abandoned Us After Militia Attacks, Killings, SOKAPU Cries Out

Tpeople of Southern Kaduna have alleged that the Kaduna State and Federal Governments have abandoned them after suffering series of attacks and killings in the hands of Fulani militia.

According to the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union ( SOKAPU), in a statement, yesterday: “We wish to draw attention to the plight of our people who have been abandoned by both the Federal Government and Kaduna State Government after they have suffered unprovoked violence and destruction of their communities in the hands of armed Fulani militia, some of who they can identify, in series of attacks that bear all the signs of genocide in the past three y e a r s . ”

The statement, signed by spokesman of the group, Luka Binniyat, explained: “We are talking about scores of thousands of our displaced members spread in some of the 12 local government areas of Kaduna.”

He noted that for the second year running, large areas of the 26,000 square kilometres that made up Southern Kaduna have been captured and are now in full control of armed Fulani herdsmen, as identified by surviving victims.

Binniyat added: “Our estimation is that these captured areas make many local government areas in some states. Thesecontainsomeofthemost fertile, prestige farmlands of Southernkaduna. Therainsare about to start and the hope of these hapless victims returning to their homes and start rebuilding them in preparation for the farming season seems bleak.

“In the same manner, thousands of their children have been out of school, some for over three years, with government not making any remedial effort to assist them. “In the IDP camps where some have managed to relocate, they live in sub- human conditions, barely able to feed, without sanitation and medications. This is an indictment of government, as no excuse can be given why citizens should be so forsaken by those they voted to protect them and make their welfare and security as basic rights. “All men and women of conscience should also show interest in these displaced people who can be found in various IDP camps in Chikun, Zangon Kataf and Kajuru local government areas, in some areas bordering Kaduna and Niger states and some areas of Kaduna State bordering western part of Plateau State.”