Contrary to the police report on the fresh southern Kaduna attack, the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has alleged that 33 persons were killed on Wednesday and Thursday by Fulani militia in villages of the Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
The Kaduna State Police Command had earlier claimed that 21 natives of the area were killed during the attack by the bandits.
The affected communities have been identified as Apya’Shyim, A’Piako, Atak’Mawei, and Kibori, all in Atyap Chiefdom of Zangon Kataf LGA.
According to the National Public Relations Officer of the SOKAPU, Mr. Luka Binniyat, in a statement titled, ‘33 killed in Zango Kataf in Kaduna on Thursday’. He said, prior to the attack, there was intensive patrol and the security personnel enforced the 24-hour curfew, but sadly, “when the gunmen struck, they were not on the ground.”
Binniyat added that the attackers operated between 11pm and 4am Friday morning before they left unchallenged.
The statement read in part, “Last night, 33 Atyap natives, who were among hundreds of thousands of already starving indigenes under a 24-hour rigidly imposed curfew that was 65 days yesterday, were killed in five Atyap villages in Atyap Chiefdom, Zango Kataf LGA in southern part of Kaduna State by Fulani militia.
“Last night, around 11pm, truckloads of armed Fulani militia made their way through military checkpoints under the curfew and stormed Apiashyim and Kibori villages. They laid siege to Apyaishyim, killing, looting and burning houses. In the wake of the cruelty, they left six people dead, and 20 houses burnt.
“In nearby Kibori village, seven persons were killed by the marauding, pampered Fulani militia. Around 12am, they struck Atakmawei sleeping community and carried out another carnage after which 12 persons were killed and 10 houses burnt.
“In Apiako, scared villagers who hid under grown maize crops said they saw what looked like an armoured military truck pulled up at the village square, followed by familiar military motorbikes. While the attackers were busy killing, no attempt was made to stop them.”
The group further alleged that the militia included Fulani youths born and raised in the affected villages, quoting survivors’ accounts.
However, the state Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Jaliga, told journalists that 21 persons were killed during the attack on Wednesday night.
Jaliga added that more policemen had been deployed to the affected communities to forestall further attacks, saying that three persons were injured.
He said, “Yes, there was an attack on some communities around Zango Kataf area. It took place yesterday (Wednesday), where some lives were lost and a few people were injured. About 21 persons lost their lives and three persons were injured.”
In his response to SOKAPU’s claim that no fewer than 33 lives were lost, Jaliga said, “Well, I don’t know where they got their own numbers from. You know I have not been there; I only got information from our representatives; our officers that are there.”
