Arsonists invade Fulani hamlets in Kaduna
of the company that carelessly informed Maishanu of the money. The staff member went to a tea joint where he owed the owner some money. When the tea seller pressurised him over the debt, he pleaded that he should be patient with him, explaining that their salaries had been brought from the bank and they would be paid the following morning. That was how Maishanu got to know about the money and went there that night,” he said.
He urged the people of the state to be mindful of their utterances, especially the ones that have to do with money.
Sunday Trust further gathered that when the suspect was arrested, the remaining N2.5million he left in his house had been stolen by another set of robbers.
From Misbahu Bashir, Kaduna
Several Fulani hamlets in Sanga and Jema’a local government areas of Kaduna State are being set on fire by arsonists in army trucks and uniforms, reports available to Sunday Trust revealed. The attacks were said to have started shortly after the attack on Fadan Karshi town by unknown gunmen in June 23, which led to the killing of several people.
The identities of the arsonists have not been established by the authorities, but locals allege that soldiers deployed to the area to keep peace are responsible for the attacks.
It was learnt that the attacks are mostly carried out in the odd hours of the day. According to reports, the assailants usually arrest and take their suspects to unknown locations. On arrival at any hamlet, the arsonists allegedly move to the houses they identify as their targets and begin shooting in the air before searching for their victims.
The arsonists are said to have killed many people and cattle, even as they carted away motorcycles, mattresses and food items before burning the houses.
It was learnt that several families, including women and children, have been displaced. Locals who spoke to Sunday Trust wondered why state and local government authorities have virtually done nothing to address the plight of the people.
Speaking to our reporter, national secretary of Ayu Community Development Association, Malam Tanko Iliyasu Zakari Ayu, alleged that the attacks are being carried out by soldiers, saying that no one knows why they burn herders’ camps. He said the arsonists, who usually dress in military uniforms, arrived at Tayu village on August 3 at 6am in about six trucks and burnt several houses. He said that as a result of the attacks, all the Fulani herders in Sanga Local Government Area have become apprehensive; hence, adult males hardly stay at home.
Also speaking, Ardo AbduRahman Ya’u Mohammed, who lives at Angwan Nungu in Dokana district said, “The arsonists stormed our village on Thursday last week in military trucks. They burnt houses belonging to my brothers and confiscated their motorcycles. Two days after that incident, they returned and set my house on fire. I am now living in the bush with the livestock while our families are taking refuge in neighbouring villages.” He added that at least 700 herders in the area are either taking refuge in neighbouring villages or have migrated to other states.
A victim of the attacks who spoke to our reporter near his burnt huts in Angwan Nungu said that his family had migrated to Bauchi State. He said he would soon join his family in Bauchi.
Chairman of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Jema’a Local Government Area, Alhaji AbdulHamid Musa, whose house was also burnt, alleged that there was a calculated attempt to drive all the herders in Southern Kaduna away. He added that many herders have been taken away and their whereabouts unknown.
“There were allegations that some of them were summarily executed few days after their arrest. We are trying to find out the authenticity of that claim.
“We saw the vehicles moving toward our hamlet, and we ran into the bush because we were frightened. While we were hiding in the bush we heard gunshots and saw some houses in flames. We left our houses around 6am and we could not return until the Zuhur (afternoon) prayers after the departure of the attackers.
“We we returned we discovered that all our houses and motorcycles were burnt. We conducted individual headcount of our people to determine if any was either missing or shot. We discovered that four people were shot dead, including my immediate younger brother, Ardo and our last born, Abdullahi Musa. The son of my neighbour, Sani Abdullahi, was taken away to an unknown location. We can’t complain because if you do, you will become a suspect. In fact, we were even surprised to see the attackers who we suspect to be soldiers in our village,” Musa said.
He revealed that district and village heads in the area had written a report to the local government over the incident, but there has not been any response.
The police public relations officer, Kaduna State command, Superintendent Aminu Lawan, said the police had not gotten the report of the alleged attacks on Fulani hamlets.
The deputy director, Army Public Relations, 1 Division, Kaduna, Colonel Usman Abdul, said soldiers were not behind the attacks, adding that troops were only deployed there to maintain peace. He also said he was not aware of any report on the incident.