SOKAPU flays fresh attack, killings in Southern Kaduna

Sothern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has condemned the fresh attack by gunmen in Kaura Council of Kaduna State.

Gunmen were said to have invaded Zunuruk in Kaura and unleashed terror on the people, killing five and injuring several others, after a football tournament for peace and unity in three communities.

President of SOKAPU, Jonathan Asake, at a press conference yesterday, lamented the development, calling on the state government to live up to its responsibility by ensuring adequate security of lives and property in the area.

“Less than 24 hours after the handing over ceremony of our secretariat as newly elected National Executive Committee (NEC) of SOKAPU, dark forces of evil struck our communities once again, with such a renewed dimension of terror that was not thought possible in 2019.

“On December 8, after an annual football tournament to foster peace and unity among three communities had just came to an end at the football field of LEA Primary School, Zunuruk, the gunmen invaded the place and started shooting, leaving several casualties.”
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Within a few minutes, four able-bodied young men, all married with children, lay cold dead in pool of their innocent blood. Four others were critically injured and were rushed to the nearby General Hospital in Kafanchan.”

Asake argued that the tragic event took place despite a permanent police checkpoint less than a kilometre from the scene of the event.

Said he: “Those who were killed on the spot are Kefas Peter (39) and Solomon Yohana (48), a secondary school teacher and coach of the community. The others are Felix John (46) and Garba Barnabas (37).

“It is pathetic to note here that Garba Barnabas had fled from his village, Zankan, to Zunuruk as a survivor of herdsmen invasion of his communities in Takad chiefdom, which indicates that nowhere is safe in our areas.”

He added that Ishaku Dauda (26), who were among those rushed to the hospital, couldn’t make it, as he died on Tuesday morning, bringing the death toll to five.

“We condemn in very strong term the unprovoked, underserved barbarism unleashed on Zunuruk community by evil men. We equally sympathise with the families of those that lost their loved ones and pray for the quick recovery of those that were injured. We believe that all our communities must be free, safe and secured for every resident of Southern Kaduna, irrespective of tribe, religion, political or cultural affiliation,” he added.