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For quite some time now, southern Kaduna has been facing murderous attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen. The killings, arson, rape and the destruction of farm crops by these herdsmen has crippled social and economic activities in the area. From 2011 till now, Southern Kaduna has become a theatre of blood, a forlorn region its people forgotten specie. The “unknown gun men” or the suspected Fulani herdsmen that have been accused of this heinous crime have as it appears, become above the law. They did it in Agatu, Plateau, Nassarawa, Ondo, Ekiti, Enugu, and Adamawa and they “succeeded”. They kill in tens and destroyed properties in millions.
In all the places they attacked, they got away with it. None has been arrested let alone prosecuted. How normal is that? Their weapons are sophisticated and they go unchallenged by the Nigerian government.
The case of Southern Kaduna is pitiable. For about five years now, the killings have persisted. From Kaura to Sanga, from Sanga to Zangon Kataf to Jamaa. It is killing and maiming. In one attack alone in 2014 in Bondong Kaura LGA, over 100 were killed. In Sanga again in one attack over another 100 people were killed. The latest was the attacks in Godogodo were over 40 people were killed.
Right now there are a lot of displaced people with little or no succor coming from NEMA or SEMA. The most disturbing aspect is the silence that often greets these attacks from both the media (especially the broadcast media) and from the elite of the region. The area is adversely underreported to let the world know our plight.
After the killings in Godogodo which was preceded by series of other attacks, the Kaduna State government as usual told the world that they were “on top of the situation.” But till now there is no adequate security presence in the area to guarantee the safety of lives and property of the people. In Gidan Waya where the state College of Education is located, people have all deserted the area.
While the media may be accused of conspiracy of silence, it is pertinent to remind our elected and appointed representative to remember the story of Nehemiah. Nehemiah served in the palace of King Artaxerxes. He was enjoying the pleasure and the luxury of the palace but on getting a report that the walls of Jerusalem were destroyed and the people desolate, Nehemiah became visibly upset. When the king enquired why, he replied “Why should my face not be sad when the city, the place of my father’s tomb lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire?” Nehemiah 2:3. Nehemiah succeeded in getting the attention and the support of the king to go home and help in the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Another example is that if Esther. Esther was a queen in the palace. After Haman had perfected plans for the massacre of the Jews, Mordecai sent message to Esther but her response was too casual which necessitated Mordecai to warn thus, “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the kings palace any more than all other Jews, for if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14.
There is no gainsaying that we have people from Southern Kaduna who are now in “king palaces” we have people who occupy position like that of Nehemiah and Esther, yet their impact is less felt in forestalling this carnage. We have both appointed and elected representatives at both the federal and state levels. But apart from the members representing the affected areas, the rest keep quite in their “comfort zones”
If the government can tackle the menace of cattle rustlers in Birnin Gwari area of the state, why is it difficult for the same government to tackle Fulani herd herdsmen attack in Southern Kaduna?
Silence in the face of crime and Injustice is the highest conspiracy of the strong over the weak! Let those who have conscience heed to the warning of Mordecai to Esther. “A stitch in time saves nine”.
By Matthew W. Barde.
Southern Kaduna people should know that there is an old hidden agenda to conquer them.