By Isreal Bulus
Following the gruesome murder of people in an attack on Ungwan Wakili in Zango Kataf Local Government Area and the killing of a Pastor’s Son, abduction of his family members, some of the affected victims have shared their horrific experiences.
But while the people were still mourning, the killers also invaded Mabushi community on Tuesday night.
One of the victims of the Ungwan Wakili massacre, Mr Dadi Babas, a Pastor with the Baptist Church in Karimbu-Kahugu in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State who spoke, recounted how his Son was brutally killed by the terrorists, while his wife, his breastfeeding daughter inlaw, and other two family members were abducted.
The clergyman, Mr. Dadi Babas, said the bandits struck the community, Karimbu-Kahugu and made their way straight to his house at about 1am, on Friday morning while he was far away from Bauchi for his elder brother’s funeral.
He explained that it was around 4:am in the morning he received a call that terrorists identified as Fulani herdsmen invaded their Community, buggle into his house and shot sporadically at the Ceiling were his Son was hiding.
” It was one of the most disturbing stories I received in recent times,” Babas lamented.
He said his breastfeeding daughter inlaw, his wife and other 3 members of the family were abducted, disclosing that his wife was released the following morning because she couldn’t walk.
” My Son has since been buried according to Christian rites but the other family members are still with their abductors,” Babas added
He disclosed that contact has so far been established with the kidnappers and they’re demanding the whooping sum of N5 million as ransom.
“But we are still begging them for N2 million,” adding that the community is still living in fear of the unknown.
Babas who explained that it is the first time his community is experiencing such a barbaric act in the series of attacks on Southern Kaduna communities, called on the government and security agencies to ensure the safe return of his remaining family members.
“For the death of my son, I have left everything in the hands of God, “Babas said.
A resident of Ungwan Wakili in Zango Kataf Local Government Area, Mr Barnabas Tonak, who lost his mother, his in-law with her two kids during the carnage gave horrific details of how the attackers suspected to be Fulanis infiltrated their village with sophisticated weapons killing 17 people who were mostly women and children.
He said:” I went to work in Kafanchan on that fateful day in the morning while the attack took place in the evening,” he said adding that the attack left five of his family members gruesomely murdered while one person sustained injury.
While reiterating that the villagers have deserted the communities, said: “Most of the villagers run to places they think is safer for them and return in the morning because of fear of another round of attack.
“The community had never experienced any attack except the issue of Fulani herders grazing on our farmlands which has been a long time rift, ” Tonak said, disclosing that there was a serious pandemonium a day before the sad incident happened.
He said the army and the Mobile Police Force manning a checkpoint had disagreement before the attack which complicated their issue.
“The army personnel drove the mobile police officers manning the checkpoint and took over the place. The reason behind that incident is still unknown to the villagers.
“It was after the attack on our communities that I was told that a Fulani man and a police officer were both shot as a result of the disagreement between the Police and the Soldiers,” Barnabas said.
He explained that over the years, the community have been living in peace with all the tribes but that recently there have been suspicions among themselves.
“As I am talking to you now we cannot go to our farmland even before this carnage in our community. We have lost some loved ones gruesomely killed by these terror Fulani marauders, ” Barnabas said.
Barnabas said the general opinion of the villagers is that the Government of Kaduna State doesn’t want elections to be held in their area.
“Our people are mindful of that and they’re determined to go out on Saturday and vote for leaders that will bring their sanity back. People this time around are voting with one voice regarding their past experiences with the APC administration of Mal Nasir el-Rufai.
“The Kaduna State Governor has openly shown so much hatred for us as a people. el-Rufai said,” Our votes don’t matter to him whether we vote for him or not but we’re determined to come out massively more than the presidential election,” Barnabas said.
Meanwhile, the Southern Kaduna People in Diaspora (SOKAPDA) Europe, had in a press statement signed by its President Mr Casimir P Biriyok and the Secretary Dr Janet Nale (SOKAPDA) Europe condemned in strong terms the recent killings in Ungwan Wakili and other Villages that resulted in the loss of over 17 lives with innocent citizens injured.
They said the attack was coming barely 3 months after the mass murder of 38 harmless villagers in Malagum, Kamuru–Ikulu and Abun (Broni Prono) in Southern Kaduna on 18th December, 2022.
“SOKAPDA Europe, finds it difficult to comprehend how human lives seem to have little or no value in Nigeria in general, and Kaduna state in particular. We condemn this wanton killing in its entirety.
“These attacks are happening in the middle of elections; given this scenario, one can only assume that this is calculated to destabilise Southern Kaduna during this election period.
“There seems to be no empathy from the political leadership of the State, for we have not heard of any statement made by either the state or most of the political actors, by either visiting or indicating support through press releases or otherwise, the curfew notwithstanding.
“A couple of days ago, in Lagos, a train accident killed 6 people and this attracted sympathy and the attention of the whole state. Flags were flown half mast and the governor was all over the place. However, 17 people were killed in Kaduna State and as at the time of writing, we have not heard from the state not to talk of a visit by the state leadership.
“Most of the political parties have shown little support to either the victims or issue a simple statement of condemnation of the killings.
“It is essential to hold those who have sworn to protect us to do the needful for we in diaspora are frustrated that in the 21st century, technology like phone tracking, geo orbits satellite, drones and old-fashion spying, etc, have not been fully utilized.
“The peaceful Kaduna State that we once knew is no more and we sincerely hope that somewhere within the political class, someone will take security of lives seriously for it is absolutely too tragic that our state has become a killing field, ” the statement added.
