Bomba Dauda
In a press statement signed by the convener of Kaura Development Forum (KDF), Ezra Ishaku (Lucky), entitled: “Kaura Local Government is Under Siege,” the group, said, the peace-loving and hospitable communities in kagoro, Kaura LG in Kaduna South Senatorial District of Kaduna State have turned into a place for mass burial.
The press statement was issued following the repeated attacks in Mallagum and Songwong by terrorists where about 38 people were gruesomely killed, scores wounded and houses burnt to rubble.
“We are in a state of grief and deep mourning because peace has been murdered in our land and communities,” the group said.
Adding that, Our peace-loving and hospitable communities in Kagoro have become a place for mass burials because criminal Fulani armed militia has constantly without any provocation murdered hundreds of innocent citizens: the elderly, women, and children; maimed others and burnt down their houses and food reserves. On Sunday 18th December 2022 alone a total of 40 persons were murdered in cold blood, at Mallagum and Sakong, Kpak all in Kagoro Chiefdom.
They went further, saying, Before this attack of 18th December 2022, 5 people were murdered in a similar style at Kpak on Wednesday, 14th December, 2022. Despite all evident intelligence that these attackers were coming to carry out these genocides, there were no countermeasures taken by the security forces to secure our people.
To say the truth, if not for the intervention of some gallant mobile policemen whose counter shots repelled the assailants, the number of casualties and wanton destruction could have been more. On the other hand, we are of the strong opinion that the security forces stationed at various checkpoints in our communities are hardly there to protect us because they lack timely response to distress calls; their activities at those checkpoints are rather a show of shame not good for public expression.
In too many cases to analyse here, the pattern has remained the same, each attack is visited by condemnations from the government and the security forces without a single arrest; most often than not, it is the victims of the attack that are usually harassed and arrested upon reaction after each attack. We, the KDF condemn these acts of deliberate genocide against our people and therefore call on all federal and state government and security apparatus to take proactive measures to end these acts of terrorism in Kaura LGA and elsewhere in the state and country at large.
We call on our community and political leaders to rise with courage to address this monster that is on the rampage in our communities because no one is safe anywhere, anytime until we collectively take this monster by the horns.
We sincerely express our condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones and properties in these devilish acts; may the Lord have mercy on the souls of the departed. Finally, we call on all kind-hearted individuals, government, and groups to come to the immediate assistance of the hundreds of internally displaced persons comprising women, children, and the elderly who have now been moved to IDP camps to enable them to find succour at this distressful moment. May the peace of the Lord be with us all.
