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The Atakad Community Development Association (ACDA) in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, disclosed yesterday that Fulani militia had captured 16 Atakad villages and killed at least 180 of their people.
The group also said over 5,000 people from the area had become internally displaced persons (IDPs) since the violence started in 2013.
Speaking during the burial ceremony of the assassinated district head of Zangang in Atakad Chiefdom, Mr. Yohanna Daniel Shinkut, by Fulani militias, President of ACDA, Mr. Ishaya Kunden, said the frequent attacks on the people by Fulani gunmen had destabilised the community and traumatised the people.
Kunden said: “Since these invasions and killings of our people started on March 24, 2013, we have lost 16 villages to Fulani invaders.
“At the last count,180 people have been killed, right now, Fulani men are fully settled with their cattle and families, in Mayit, Agwom, Zakai Gira, Tunga Magwot, Telak, Zakum and Kirim.
“Go there and see them. Their cattle are grazing on everything we left be behind.
The world has forgotten about us as if we are not human. As if we not part of the most injured in human society. 10,000 Atakad are now homeless and are wandering from relations to churches and anywhere they can get assistance.”
Kunden accused the state government of not doing much to tackle the challenges facing the Atakad people.
According to him, “The state government has done very little to help,” adding: “Only the churches and some NGOs are coming in with relief materials to victims still hanging around.
He stated that: “All our children are out of schools. Men cannot go back to their farms. It is horrible. All we are asking is more soldiers and a few things to defend ourselves. We can return if we get that assistance.”
Also speaking at the burial of the late chief, the overall Chief of Atakad Chiefdom, Chief Tobias Nkom Wada called on the Southern Kaduna people to unite and fight the dangerous trend.
“They want to take over our hills and use it as a launch pad to invade the entire Southern Kaduna. That is why they are killing our people in Sanga and chasing them from the hills. Southern Kaduna people and those governing us cannot afford to see these series of murder of innocent people continue.
“I call on our brothers in Ganawuri, who the Fulani are accommodating in their lands to see reasons to negotiate with us and the Fulani,” he said.
The burial was attended by prominent traditional rulers from Southern Kaduna, the clergy and a broad segment of Atakad and Maroa communities amidst heavy security mounted by the Nigeria police and the military.
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