Head Office: 20 Jama’a Street Kafanchan, Kaduna State
Our Ref:_____________________ Your Ref: ______________________ Date___________________
Website: www.myfoska.uk.org
THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE SYSTEMATIC GENOCIDE OF MUSLIMS IN SOUTHERN KADUNA
Preamble
It is universally acknowledge that justice, equity and fairness to all citizens irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliation, especially in a diverse society like Kaduna State is a pre-requisite for peaceful co-existence, nation building and national integration. Consequently, chapter II section 15 subsection (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. Stated “Accordingly, national integration shall be actively encouraged, while discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, sex, religious, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties shall be prohibited…” Contrary to the above quotation, Muslims of Southern Kaduna have been facing serious existential threats on their continued survival on accounts of their believes, social, political and cultural values and economic fortunes a product of hard work in the hands of envious Christian ethnic groups of Southern Kaduna who have arrogated to themselves the sole right and ownership of the geographical space called Southern Kaduna (Zone III) area of Kaduna State, which we are also major stakeholders with equal claims.
In the last two decades, the life of the Muslims of Southern Kaduna have been very repulsive due to persistent state of apprehension and insecurity of what to expect either, while at home, at school, at work, at the hospital or on the road due to perpetual intimidation, horrific bloodletting and premeditated violence that has visited our different communities in Southern Kaduna. This has resulted to unmitigated extinction of over fifty Hausa-Fulani communities. Some of these are Zangon-Kataf, Zonkwa, Matsirga, Unguwan Rimi Baju, Kwoi, Jaban kogo, Gidan maga among others. The recurrent aggression across Southern Kaduna has received widespread publicity from the public, media houses, and the incident was also tabled at the National Assembly. Regrettably most of what was discussed and published was one sided, full of partisanship, ethnic chauvinism and imprudence as promoted by Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and their sponsors, without any logical initiative for dialogue, reconciliation and peace building. Thus, as the bogus and deceitful propaganda continued. The Jama’a Foundation , Kafanchan chapter in collaboration with Muslim Youth Foundation of Southern Kaduna (MYFOSKA) fines it very imperative to give a factual perspective of the state of affairs in Southern Kaduna.
The recent crises in Southern Kaduna (Zone III).
The renewed aggression has been summarized into three phases the Ninte saga, the demonstration episode and the Goska incident.
Ninte is a settlement in Godogodo chiefdom, Jema’a Local Government. On 25th of May, 2016.Some herdsmen were grazing with their cattles in the area and a farmer accused them to have entered a farmland thereby causing some damages. This resulted to disagreement. The herdsmen leader (Ardo) of the area intervened and he initiates a peace move, along with the two other herdsmen involved. He went to the Hakimi’s office to reassure him and the community of their desire to compensate the aggrieved farmer for any damages done to the farmland and any other expenses.
Unfortunately, he was surrounded and killed malevolently by the Christian natives. They further went on rampage, burning all Fulani settlements in and around Godogodo and in the process, attacked and killed every herdsmen on-sight. The unsolicited violence came as a shock, especially to the Fulani headsmen and the Muslim communities. Expectedly the security agencies, specifically the Nigerian Police, as usual, made no attempt to arrest the culprits. This state of injustice and hopelessness forced the herdsmen to respond in self defense. Additionally, to give their action momentum, SOKAPU rushed to the media to distort facts and carry out false propaganda, they were explicitly calling on their people to take up arms, thus, within a period of few hours, the situation escalated and spread to Kaura and Zango-kataf Local Government Area. Thus, there were coordinated attacks on the settlement of Hausa-Fulanis in Gidan-Waya, Tafan and Pasakori. At the same time they mounted illegal roadblocks along all roads that traverse Southern Kaduna; they were visibly seen stopping, searching and slaughtering any Muslims in the vehicle passing. Some of the horrible cases recorded are;
They destroyed and burned the two central mosques in Godogodo destroyed including some Muslim settlement.
Mal Ibrahim Abubakar, an Igala by tribe, and a B.Ed students at Kaduna State College of Education,Gidan-waya, together with his Christian friend were attacked along Pasakori on 25th October, 2016.. For being a Muslim he was killed. while his Christian friend was speared
18 innocent Fulani Muslim travelers from Niger state were on their way to Denge in Plateau State, they were stop at one of the illegal roadblock at Garaje, Kaura LGA. They were all killed and burned in their two vehicles
Mal Yakubu, was the accountant of Jema’a LGA. He was ambushed and killed at the illegal roadblock at Garaje, Kaura LGA, for being a Muslim, even though he was an ikulu by tribe.
Babangida Mohammad from Saminaka, was an okada rider, he took a passenger to Unguwan Musa on 30th October he was attacked and killed.
Mal Mohammad was a Mining Engineer from Niger republic, who has sign an MOU with the Nasarawa State Government for solid minerals prospecting. He was stop and murdered together with his brother in one of the illegal roadblock at Kagoro.
The entire Seven Fulani settlement in mile One, Gidan-waya were all destroyed and burned, while over hundred of their cattle were stolen. At same time no relieve materials was provided to them by the State Government.
6th December, 2016 was samarun-kataf markets day, on that day while the market was at its peak, all Muslim in the market, in respective of their ethnic group, were attacked and killed, there corpse were deposited in an unused well, and there properties were looted and destroyed.
Mal Abubakar Naseh, was killed and burned in the premises of the police post at Kaura LGA.
Fulani settlement around Jakansa, Kaura LGA was surrounded where five persons were killed, all their settlement were burned, over two hundred cattle’s were killed. The list is endless.
The second round of their aggression on Muslims was disguise as a peaceful demonstration. This is in spite of the order banding all forms of procession in Kaduna State. The Hausa-Fulani and other Muslim community of Kafanchan woke on 19th December, 2016 to be confronted with unimaginable insults, harassment and intimidation in the name of a procession. They were led by their chief sponsor Hon Danjuma La’ah, the senator representing Southern Kaduna senatorial District. While men of the Nigerian police force, as usual gave them the necessary cover. Consequently, as they reach the Government secretariat the destruction begins; They destroyed the council chairman office as well treasurer and accountant offices. After which they now turns to Muslim and their properties. Some of the cases are;
The destroyed and burned the Local Government Mosque, Federal technical college Mosque, Kaduna State College of Education temporary site Mosque.
They destroyed the Kudnax filling station opposite College of Nursing Kafanchan belonging to Alh Kabiru Tanko, destroyed his ginger store after stolen some bags and burned the store thereafter.
They destroyed and burned a Business center belonging to Alh Danjuma Umar, incidentlally all his staff were the same Christian natives.
They destroyed the A.A. Abbas filling station opposite flour-mill Kafanchan belonging to Alh Abbas.
As usual, while the illegal procession last, they also mounted illegal roadblocks along all roads that traverse Southern Kaduna, in the process several innocent Muslims lost their lives and their vehicles were burned.
The final aggression was an attacked by Goska community to Fulani settlement (Kadan) at the outskirt of Dangoma on 23rd December, 2015. The killed several Fulani herdsmen and burned their houses and killed over one hundred cattles. The assault continued until 24th December, 2015 when the herdsmen responded in self defense, and drove them back to Goska where the altercation continues. In the early morning of 26th December, 2016, the Goska community regroup and burned three Fulani settlement (rugan kohoje, Gereje and Kwaje) close to Dangoma. They proceeded to Dangoma and surround the community, they shot six person to death and make several attempt to burned the community before the arrival of military personnel. In spite of all this no arrests were made, while the media only reported the Goska reprisal encounter as if reaction to an action is not equal but opposit
To date, Dangoma, a Hausa-Fulani community is presently under siege by Christian natives of Goska, Takau and Tudun wada all in Kaninkon chiefdom.
Our observation
From the foregoing, it is apparent to see all those behind the crises or premeditating it, if not, why did the natives reject the dialogue initiated by the Herdsmen leader (Ardo) and immediately result to bloodshed? Why were the two central mosques of Godogodo burnt? Why did the disagreement in Godogodo spread to Kaura and Zangon-Kataf LGA.? Why were all roads that traverses Southern Kaduna being illegally blocked at will, and all Muslims on transit irrespective of tribe or place of origin, were killed and burnt? Why did the illegal procession resulted to burning of Mosques in all Federal and State institutions and Killing of innocent Muslims on transit including the looting and destruction of their properties etc? Again why were the Senator and House member representing Zone III and Jema’a/Sanga federal Constituency respectively silent on this whole issue? Why was SOKAPU and CAN selfish? Most importantly why was the media house, specifically AIT bias in its reporting and grand collaboration to continue the extermination of Muslim and Islam completely from the zone, as already started. Therefore, we say enough is enough? And we like to make bold, the following clarifications;
The geographical area called Southern Kaduna is one of the three Senatorial Zones that make up Kaduna State. Thus, politically Southern Kaduna is known as Zone III area of Kaduna State which consist of all the areas and communities in the following eights (8) Local Government Areas. Namely, Jema’a, Zangon-Kataf, Kaura, Sanga, Jaba, Kachia, Kagarko, and Kauru.
Southern Kaduna (Zone III) comprises of seventyty (70) different ethnic nationalities. The most prominent once are the Hausa/Fulani, Bajju, Aegworok, Atyap, Kaninkon, Jaba, Kagoma, Ninzo, Ayu, Numana etc. These ethnic natives of Southern Kaduna have Christianity as their common bond, with the exception of Hausa and Fulani who are 99% Muslims. The population of Muslim community comprising of Hausa/Fulani and indigenous Muslims from other tribes to the population of the Christian natives is in the ratio of 40% : 60% of the total population of Southern Kaduna. This is the reality in decimating our rising demography.
Historically, Hausa/Fulanis founded most communities in Southern Kaduna area for more than two hundred years. For instance, Jama’a Emirate which came to being like any other emirate in Northern Nigeria is the oldest traditional institution in Southern Kaduna. The emirate was established in the year 1810 by Mallam Usman Yabo; the son of Sarkin Kabin Yabo, Muhammadu Mayijo, one of the Field Commanders of Sheikh Usman Danfodio at a time most of the tribes were in their migratory waves into the Southern Kaduna area and people without knowledge of history will call us settlers. The present Emir of Jama’a His Highness of Alh (Dr) Muhammadu Isa Muhammadu II is the eleventh Emir of Jama’a.. The emirate gave birth to all other traditional institution in Southern Kaduna with the exception of Kagoro, Jaba and Marwa chiefdoms. They rest were formerlly under the Zaria and Jama’a emirate.
The driven factor for the recurrent of violence in Southern Kaduna is the pathological hatred for Muslims and Islam that has been deeply instilled in the minds of Southern Kaduna Christians natives by their elites. Thus, Any form of characterization: Ethnic, Chieftaincy, Procession, Land or Farmers-Herdsmen conflicts are mere disguise and camouflage. They have used these pretext previously to unleash horrific bloodletting on the Muslims, through massive killings, wanton destruction of religious centers like mosques and Islamiyya schools as well as destruction of economic base of the Muslim community such as: markets, filling stations, businesses centers and brutal killing and theft of livestock among others..
Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) is a union for Christians from Southern Kaduna, as no Muslim is or will ever be obliged genuine membership. What it propagates as a major agenda is hatred of Muslims and Islam, and that any Hausa, Fulani or Muslim is a settler and has limited rights in the area contrary to the right guaranteed in the Nigerian Constitution. Thus, it will be more appropriate for SOKAPU to change its name to Southern Christian Union (SOCU)? This will make better meaning and it will support the hidden agenda for which the union was formed.
It is on records that Southern Kaduna Christian natives are living and working peacefully in Northern States that are predominantly Muslims, like Zamfara, Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Niger, Bauchi, Adamawa among others, without any form of intimidation, harassment or bloodshed. Yet the natives of these States are consistently being attacked and killed at illegal road blocks mounted by Christian natives of Southern Kaduna.
It is imperative to state that the perpetrators and sponsors of this kind of monumental crime against Hausa/Fulani and indigenous Muslims, from Kasuwan magani in 1981 to the last 2011 post-election massacre, have never for once being brought to justice in spite of the fact that some were being indicted by different Commissions of Inquiry set up by Kaduna State Government at various points in time. Thus, the perpetrators took pride in what they did especially. in Zonkwa, they recorded all their ungodly & dastardly happy killing in a video recorder. Most of the assailants were not only identifiable in the pictures and clips, but also apprehensible.
Historically, whenever peace-talk or dialogue among the parties involved and agreement are reached, the precarious Southern Kaduna Christians natives are always the first to breach the contract. Cases abound in this regard. The Ninte case is a typical example, all Government efforts in bringing communities to sign peace accords as done in Plateau State was also deliberately breached by the Southern Kaduna Christian natives so that even a simple signpost of peace mounted at Samaru-Kataf was destroyed. They have consistently chosen violence and bloodshed instead of dialogue and reconciliation. This is obvious from their media campaigns of calumny.
It is very important to mention that the views of Senator Danjuma La’ah and Hon Garba Shehu (Senator and House member representing Southern Kaduna Senatorial Zone) presented at the floor of the NASS does not represent the true reflections of situation in Southern Kaduna. They have built alliance with their fellow Christian natives, thus, they intentionally refuse to report all the extinction against the Hausa, Fulani and other Muslims in their constituencies.
It is also very important to state that the composition of men and women of the Nigerian Police force posted to Southern Kaduna contravenes the federal character and diversity of Nigeria as the records shows that 99% of men and women of the Nigerian Police force & security agencies serving in Southern Kaduna are Christians and ethnic natives of these areas. Thus, instead of providing security for lives and properties to the general public, they have participated & precipitated actively but unprofessionally in the intimidation, harassment and killing of innocent Hausa-Fulani and indigenous Muslims of Southern Kaduna.
Our recommendation:
We Hausa-Fulani and other indigenous Muslims of Southern Kaduna have suffered undue bloodshed and destruction. Yet we are being unduly persecuted, prosecuted and marginalized by the media, civil society organizations, without giving us a faire-hearing. Thus, we appeal to journalist, media houses, CSOs like National human right commission (NHRC) AND Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) among others to always come down to Southern Kaduna and verify facts before coming to conclusions on critical issues like this. We strongly condemn the taking of innocent lives and support all Government efforts aimed at restoring peaceful co-existence. Thus, we make the following recommendations:
The composition of an impartial Facts Finding Committee by Federal and State Government to unravel the genesis of the crises and level of destruction and lives lost. At the same time they should investigate and identify all perpetrators of violence; their political sponsors as well as their collaborators in the Nigerian Police Force and ensure they are brought to justice to serve as deterrent to others.
The composition of truth and reconciliatory commission, comprising of the two parties involved ( Muslim groups and Christian natives of Southern Kaduna.) This can be achieved through open dialogue, confession, and forgiveness. Thus, peace building processes with the collaborations of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Security agencies, religious leaders, traditional leaders and representative of Government at all levels.
Government should ensure that, henceforth the composition of security agencies and their posting to all Local Governments Area of Southern Kaduna reflect federal character and diversity of the Nigerian State, especially the Nigerian Police Force, State Security Services, etc.This will remove suspicion, conspiracy and bias
Governments should immediately pay compensation to all victims and ensure immediate resettlement of Hausa-Fulani Muslims forcefully displaced from their homes, such as Matsirga, zonkwa, Unguwan Rimi, Gidan Maga etc and provide adequate security for their safety.
Government at Federal & State levels should enact a law to prohibit and criminalize the mounting of illegal roadblocks for killing innocent Muslim on transit by Christian natives of Southern Kaduna with immediate effects.
We appeal to the Kaduna State Government and the security agencies to immediately relieve the Muslim community of Dangoma from the siege they were put under by Kaninkon Chiefdom. They should provide permanent military checkpoints at regular interval.
We appeal to the Kaduna State Government to immediately send relief materials to the seven Fulani communities displaced from Mile One. They are presently taking refuge in Unguwan Nungu, Sanga LGA, Kaduna State.
Government at the Federal, State and local Government levels should ensure that all its appointments, programmes, polices and relief materials for Southern Kaduna Zone should reflect the diversity of the zone, i.e. Christian ethnic natives of Southern Kaduna and Muslims of Southern Kaduna.
The print and electronic media should always verify their findings before publishing; they should hear from both parties: Christian natives of Southern Kaduna and Muslims of Southern Kaduna rather than the one-sided reporting meant to malign one side.
Government should establish a law prohibiting the poisoning of animal pasture, water ways and ensure the reclaiming of old grazing reserves and routes as well as the establishment of new ones.
We appeal to Senator Danjuma La’ah and Hon Garba Shehu (Senator and House member representing Southern Kaduna Senatorial Zone) to try to empower the teeming unemployed youths instead of cheering them to violence. Also we appeal to Senator Shehu Sani (Senator representing Zone II) not to politicize the massacre of Southern Kaduna Muslims for his selfish political agenda only because he wanted to spite at Governor El-Rufai.
Conclusion:
These sad developments in Southern Kaduna negate all principles of equity, justice and fairness and all that the Nigerian constitution guarantees, the challenges these scenario have already produced are numerous and daunting while the effects will continue to resonate negatively and devastatingly to the development of Southern Kaduna, Kaduna State and Nigeria at large. Thus, we are calling on all members of the public who are desirous of permanent peace in Southern Kaduna (Zone III) to immediately rise above sentiment and condemn the indiscriminate shedding of innocent blood in the Zone and initiate a genuine process of dialogue, reconciliation and peace building as there is no alternative to peaceful co-existence, which is a pre-requisite to prosperity and sustainable development.
Alh Muhammad M.K. Qaseem Mal. Dabo Abdullahi
Chairman National Secretary,
Jama’a Foundation, Kafanchan Chapter Muslim Youth Foundation of Southern Kaduna (MYFOSKA)
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