Southern Kaduna communities under fresh attacks, says SOKAPU

Southern Kaduna people have cried out over a fresh attack on their communities by armed bandits and kidnappers while calling on government and security operatives to come to their rescue.

In a statement yesterday, Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) lamented the impunity with which the areas were invaded.

“We wish to draw the attention of the public and government to the unrelenting impunity with which several Gbagyi communities in Chikun Council of Kaduna State on its boundary with Niger State are being invaded by armed bandits and kidnappers,” it stated.

According to the statement signed by SOKAPU national publicity secretary, Luka Biniyat, for the past five days, the villages of Kuduru, Tawali, Unguwan Madaki, and Katarma, all in Chikun Council, “have been under severe attack by bandits and kidnappers numbering over 200, riding on motorcycles and armed with AK-47 rifles”.

He explained that the invaders, who took the villagers by storm in the wee hours, had continued to kill, maim, destroy, loot, sack and occupy the villages with impunity.

“Being unarmed and not forewarned, all the village youths of these communities could do was to reduce the level of a casualty by assisting to evacuate women, children, and the invalid into nearby bushes carrying little or nothing with them in terms of food and clothing.

“After days in the bushes, the beleaguered victims have found their way to Sarkin Pawa town in Niger State, trekking for days and crossing by canoe to their neighbours in Niger. In all the affected villages, foodstuffs, livestock, motorcycles and other household items belonging to the villagers have been taken over, as the invaders are occupying the villages unchallenged by the military, police or any security agency,” the statement read in part.

Biniyat noted the communities under siege to include Zoko Yako, Sabon Gida Katarma, and Unguwan Sarki, Bwadana, and Kwayipe.

SOKAPU called on the government to look into the development and take urgent steps to address it.

“We also call on the elected representatives of the affected communities to urgently attend to the affected communities within their constituencies and liaise with relevant government agencies to provide security, welfare and other essential needs for their electorate in distress.”