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• Bandits launch fresh attack on Zango-Kataf, kill 17, injure several others

From Sola Ojo, Kaduna

Kaduna State has survived many bloody crises and attacks in the past.

These included religious crises and activities of insurgents and bandits. In the recent past, there seemed to be a break.

This respite was, however, truncated on Sunday, March 12, 2023. This was after renewed attack on Angwan Wakili in Zango Kataf Local Government by suspected Fulani herders, leading to the death of 17 persons and many others injured.

Spokesman, Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Muhammed Jalige, said trouble started after a boy-shepherd was murdered in the area a few days back. While they were on the investigation of the incident, a bigger attack erupted, which led to the death of several persons.

He insisted that they were on top of the situation: Those responsible for the killings will be rounded up soon.”

President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Shettima Yerima, said: “This dastardly act must be condemned. This is not what we expect at this critical time and it must not be allowed to go like this.

“It must not be encouraged. Government must rise to the occasion because honestly, I don’t understand why such should happen now.

“I was thinking that by now we are almost overcoming the challenges of insurgency and banditry. These people are bent on frustrating or truncating democracy and the government must act swiftly.

“If we can stay for a while without the issue of kidnapping before and during the presidential election, why the sudden resurface when we are about to hold the state election?

“They are trying to instil fears in the minds of people and we must all rise to resist it. Whether it is political or criminality, the government must rise to address it decisively.

“This is a threat to our national security and democracy. Voters must come out en mass to ensure this issue is addressed by casting their vote for people they feel can do better.

“Security agents must be up and doing. No individual or group must be seen to be above the government. Our security is equal to the task but needs political will to do it once and for all.”

Country Director, Global Peace Foundation, Nigeria and Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State, Rev Joseph Hayab, said: “The resurgence of killings in Kaduna State is unfortunate. Before the killing in Zango Kataf, bandits came back and they killed and kidnapped some people in Kujama and Goni Gora communities. This is to show that most of these killings have a political undertone. Why now?

“They went off when we were talking about the national election. Now that we are about to have the state election, they are resurfacing.

That is why security agents should unravel the killing. It should not just be allowed to go like that.

“The attackers and their sponsors want to create fear in the minds of people so they will not come out to vote. But, they have just provoked the people and they will come out and vote.

“Yes, we have lost loved ones. Yes, we are mourning. We are pained and we are in grief. But, that will not dampen the spirit of our people.

Our people will come out and vote and INEC must allow the will of the people to prevail. No one should intimidate us and think we will not vote.

“I want to commiserate with the people of Zango Kataf. I want to appeal to them that even though the evil ones have to cause them pain again by losing their loved ones and property, they should not take the laws into their own hands.

“We will still call on the Federal Government and all authorities concerned to act responsively and ensure that the perpetrators of this evil act is brought to book.

“Sometimes, these evil people want to provoke us to anger so they can use that as an excuse. If anyone is fighting us, such a person is fighting God because we did not choose to be there. God has kept the people of Zango Kataf there for His purpose.

“We have always called on the security people in Kaduna State that these people are not spirit. There are security checkpoints around there, which baffles us how these criminals pass through these checkpoints without noticing them.”

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