The report is a lengthy news published by the INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING. (ICIR) after a painstaking investigation to unravel the remote cause of the current crisis rocking some of the communities in Southern Kaduna. The news is not a confirmation that the people behind the atrocities are Fulani militia, but suspected.

Reproduced below is a summary of the investigation for easy read.

Killings in the Southern Kaduna has been going on for years, but the recent attacks have been more vicious and deadly than ever before. Ibanga ISINE reports that the Nigerian government at federal and state levels appear to have abdicated their responsibility to protect the lives and properties of the people who look up to the state for protection.

From June 10 to August 21, survivors, community leaders and rights groups said a total of 136 persons have been murdered in unprovoked attacks.

Amnesty International in its August 24, 2020 report said at least 366 people have been killed between January and July 2020 in Southern Kaduna.

“Amnesty International has documented an alarming escalation in attacks and abductions in several states in the north-west and north-central Nigeria since January 2020.

“Worst affected are villages in the south of Kaduna State, where armed men killed at least 366 people in multiple attacks between January and July 2020,” the report stated.

Southern Kaduna is an area predominantly occupied by Christians, although tribally and linguistically diverse.

In bloody attacks many have described as “unprovoked and callous,” the herders have brutally sacked and plundered 24 communities in Kajuru, Kachia, Kaura, Jema’a, Kauru, Chikun and Zangon Kataf local government areas.

But the Nigerian Presidency and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai have openly admitted the bloody attacks are partly revenge killings.

Timeline Of Killings June 10 - August 18, 2020


To douse the tension over the killing of Mr. Yusuf and the shooting of the protesters, the state government declared a 24-hour curfew in Atyap Chiefdom of Zangon Kataf and Chawai Chiefdom in Kauru local government areas, respectively on June 11.

A statement released by Mr. Aruwan indicated the action followed the inability of community leaders to ease escalating tension in the affected communities.

“Kaduna State Government has imposed a 24-hour curfew in Atyap Chiefdom of Zangon Kataf Local Government and Chawai Chiefdom in Kauru Local Government Area with immediate effect,” he said.

With the prolonged lockdown to check the spread of COVID-19 infection and the 24-hour curfew, it was thought further hostilities would be stemmed.

Unfortunately, the reverse happened as heavily-armed persons which the locals identified as Fulani herdsmen, freely and consistently unleashed mayhem on helpless people from one community to another.

Not even the deployment of soldiers, policemen and NSCDC operatives to the affected areas could stop the bloody assaults.
About a week after the government declared a 24-hour curfew, some farmers in Kukum-Daji in Kaura Local Government Area sighted over 600 heavily-armed Fulani militia on Zangzang Hills.

Afraid their community may come under attack, the people raised the alarm and requested the state government and security agencies to dislodge the gunmen.

Many newspapers in the country published the report including The Vanguard;

The state government debunked the report on June 22, saying there were no gunmen on the Zangzang Hills.
In a statement signed by Mr. Aruwan, the government said military units had combed the entire hills and found nothing.

“The fighting patrol stretched up to the Kagoro Hills and other suspected hideouts. Troops did not encounter any group of armed bandits throughout the extensive fighting patrols.

“Furthermore, not a single bandit camp was found in the area and there is also no evidence of human activity in and around the hills,” the government said.

The government showered praises on military commanders as well as the officers and men for a job well done and warned communities to stop raising a false alarm.

But on July 10, exactly 30 days after the killing of Yusuf, the son of Rev. Musa Magaji in Kiboro, armed men identified by witnesses and survivors to be Fulani militia struck Chibwob, an Atyap village and killed 22 persons, injured six, razed19 houses and stole cattle and foodstuff.


Chibob village after suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded and killed killed people. Photo by Ibanga Isine

The next day, July 11, the agents of death descended on Sabon Kaura and after a bloody encounter that lasted hours, 14 innocent persons were left dead, four others were critically injured and many houses were burnt and properties looted.

On the same day, the militia invaded Kiffin, another village in Kauru Local Government Area but the villagers had fled except an eight-year-old boy.

The herders brutally shot and hacked the boy who might have wandered back from where his parents were hiding, before razing down 20 houses with properties inside them.

On July 13, the marauders stormed Masahu village, Kauru but discovered the villagers had fled except a sick man who could not run with the others. He was also shot, butchered and roasted like an animal.

The killing spree continued on July 16, as the dreaded herdsmen marched in their hundreds through Mai-do, Chikun Local Government Area.
During the invasion which lasted hours, four persons were killed and 33 abducted for ransom.

On July 17, one person was murdered while working in his farm in Doka Avong, Kajuru Local Government Area.

On the same day, the notorious militia laid siege to Efele, a settlement near Doka Avong and wiped out a family of five including the father, mother and three children.

A pastor, who was shot and left for dead miraculously survived the brutal attack.

After taking a two-day break, the herdsmen on July 20 went for an expedition, apparently to punish Kukum Daji people who raised the alarm about their presence on Zangzang Hills.

When the killers arrived; the village was bustling with people who had come from far and near to attend a wedding celebration.

Bent on exacting maximum damage, they moved straight to where scores of youth were having an after-wedding party and surrounded the venue before opening fire.

When the smoke from their blazing guns settled, 18 youth were dead and over 30 escaped with injuries.

Two of those who escaped and were rushed to the hospital later succumbed to death, raising the number of fatalities to 20.

The next day, which was July 21, Gan Gora was invaded and a total of 11 villagers were killed, 10 others were injured and four houses were burnt.

On the same day, the Nigerian Military recovered three dead bodies in Fari village in Kauru Local Government Area.

Kizachi village in Kauru Local Government Area was attacked on July 22 and a family of five was wiped out.

It was the turn of Doka Avong on July 23, as the marauders who stormed the village killed seven villagers and withdrew almost immediately.

On July 25, the killers moved to Zipak in Jema’a Local Government Area where they eliminated 10 villagers and burnt scores of houses.

On August 6, a coordinated attack was carried on five Zangon Kataf villages of Apiashyim, Kibori, Apiako, Atakmare and Magamiya.

A total of 33 persons were killed and several houses were burnt in the five villages.

On August 16, Bugai, a village in Kachia Local Government Area was invaded in the night and the village head, two siblings and aged mother were murdered and six others were injured.

The attackers looted homes and burnt down scores of houses before they withdrew.

The same day, four persons were killed after gunmen ambushed a commercial vehicle along Unguwan Madaki road, Kajuru Local Government Area.

On August 17, Bulus Joseph (48) was decapitated in his farm in Sabon Gida along Kaduna –Kachia road in Kajuru.

Mr. Joseph was said to have been cut into pieces for confronting the herdsmen so his wife and three children could escape alive.

The next day, August 18, Unguwan Gankon in Zangon Kataf LGA was invaded and two villagers were murdered and seven houses burnt.

While the massacres have persisted for over two months, no official report has been made of an attack on a Fulani settlement in Southern Kaduna either from the people or security agencies.

Conspiracy of silence

Our correspondent made attempts to speak with the Commander of the Special Forces in Zangon Kataf, Captain Chinda on the telephone.
Mr. Chinda who picked the first call, however, said he was driving and advised to be called again in 20 minutes.
He never picked further calls and would not respond to a text message sent to him.

A similar situation played out when our correspondent called the head of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Southern Kaduna, Mohammed Pam.
Mr. Pam, who picked the initial call by our reporter, said he was driving and advised to repeat the call in 30 minutes.
He did not, however, pick calls or respond to SMS by our correspondent days before this report was filed.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Ali Janga, told our correspondent he was on transit when asked to speak on the killings.
“I am on transit and will call you when I arrived,” Mr. Janga has said on the phone.
He too did not return the call or pick subsequent calls or reply SMS from our correspondent.

The Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr. Aruwan did not pick several calls or respond to text messages that sought him to speak on the matter.

Special Adviser (Media) to the Governor, Muyiwa Adekeye, would not also pick his calls or respond to text messages from our correspondent.

But a top official of the government who cannot be quoted because he is not authorised to speak on the matter said the Southern Kaduna crisis is very complex.

“The government provides vehicles, logistics and other support to security agencies. They are encouraged and supported to do their work,” the source said.

“I am not going to publicly criticize security agencies because that is what we have. If one goes about bad-mouthing the only thing you have, it is not a reasonable thing to do.

“But that is the situation. Anybody that is wondering why Kaduna State has not arrested or prosecuted anyone, I tell them that it is those that the security forces arrest that can be prosecuted.”

Below is the link to the full news.

https://www.icirnigeria.org/investigation-horror-in-southern-kaduna-untold-story-of-endless-massacres-plunder-by-suspected-fulani-militia-part-i/

mynd44, OAM4J

I hate to say this but it is obvious we do not love ourselves as individuals let alone having the capacity to love others. The worst of the massacre is our religious practices as it is obvious we lack understanding in this regard and only practice them dogmatically.

I still don't understand why CAN doesn't have an armed wing/Militia

Sad

See, nobody is going to talk about this even mention this in their timeline

The moment a black man is killed in faraway America, you will see people taking a knee, displaying black lives matter signs everywhere.

What about Southern Kaduna Lives Matter?

When do we get to talk about this too?

People being slaughtered left right and centre in Southern Kaduna but the security forces have time to go and attack unarmed people having meeting in Enugu

There might be no PEACE IN SOUTHERN KADUNA until all the INVESTED FULANIS ARE REMOVED BY THEIR INVESTOR.

Buhari has been amazing so far.
I still believe by this time next week all the modalities to end this little brouhaha will have been out in place.
Lai said something about it in 2015.
Anyways I'm really proud of the government.


Yeee!
Who slapped me!

Keep on blowing dogo turenchi and penning long epistles on the pogrom going on in the north! This is what they like as they don’t feel threatened enough to react!

Ever wondered why they fear IPOB and Mazi Kanu more than the bloodthirsty bokos?

handiwork of ruga ambassadors

Things have fallen apart!

WHO IS INTOLERABLE?*

One Christmas, I killed a goat and gave you the meat. You refused to eat it because the goat was killed by a Christian. At another Christmas, to show my love for you and my deep desire for you to partake on what we eat during Christmas season, I called a Muslim to kill a goat - at this instance you ate the meat - yet I am told I am intolerable as Southern Kaduna (SK)?

To prove my sincerity and depth of love for our friendship, I have even named my son after you, but you will never name your son after me - yet I am told that the SK man is intolerable.

I am denied contracts in my state. When I complain, you tell me I am lazy and depend too much on government handouts, though your entire life is dependent on government and its patronage, yet you tell me I am intolerable?

I am denied admission or given second choice (if lucky), and yet I am being told the SK man is intolerant.

I am denied employment or promotion. If I am employed, my appointment is terminated without the terminal benefits paid as at when due. The Southern Kaduna man is intolerable?

My father has lived in Zaria all his life but his children are denied indigeneship certificate of any local government in Zaria and yet I am told SK man is intolerable.

You are killing me and at the same time accusing my elites of organising the killings. You accuse those who empathise with me of crying more than the bereaved. How tolerable could I be?

Our daughters are sometimes kidnapped, converted to Islam and married off without my permission and yet I am being told I am intolerable.

I cannot marry your daughter because I am a Christian. If I must marry your daughter, I must first convert to Islam, and yet I am told I am intolerable.

You taxed (Jangali taxes) me for years with no regards to my ability to pay and when I could not pay, you took my farm produce or any of my domestic animals. You even fed your domestic animals with my food stuffs. Yet I am told I am intolerable.

You came to Southern Kaduna and have no respect for my culture. I cannot lay claim to any any other part of Nigeria where I reside or live. You are now claiming ownership of the land of my nativity and you are telling the whole world that I am a settler and not indigenous to Southern Kaduna. Yet I am being told I am intolerable.

You stay in your own enclaves in Southern Kaduna and tell me I have to change and be like you, and yet I am told I do not like visitors and I am also intolerable.

The Igbos and Yoruba have made Southern Kaduna home with no issues and yet I am told I am intolerable.

All I have can only be found in Southern Kaduna and if I go to where you come from, I am not even allowed to stay with you. I have to go to Sabon Gari, or Tudun Wada my designated areas but back in Southern Kaduna I am told I am intolerable.

You demand ‘citizenship’ of Southern Kaduna and yet you have no allegiance to land and yet I am told I am intolerable.

When it comes to selection into positions or posts from Southern Kaduna you will favour any one with names like yours. Yet I am told I am intolerable.

Local government delineation has been done in such a way that a Southern Kaduna man or Christian will never win Kaduna South Local Government chairmanship election. Still I am being told I am intolerable.

Senatorial seats delineation has been done in such a way that somebody from Southern Kaduna can’t never win a seat in Zone 1 or 2. Yet I am told that a Southern Kaduna man is intolerable.

You took Lere (Saminaka)which is in Southern kaduna to Senatorial Zone 1 and many political gerrymandering and turned round to say our population is only 30 and yet you say the Southern Kaduna man is intolerable.

Political appointees are all from one section and yet you tell me a Southern Kaduna man is lazy and intolerable.

State and federal resources are focused on only one section of the State and yet you tell me I am intolerable.

Southern Kaduna cannot even get Kaduna State TV signals - we depend on Plateau TV and yet I am being told I am intolerable.

If Southern Kaduna is zoned with FRCN Kaduna which is appropriate, then they must broadcast in one of the major Southern Kaduna languages, such as Jju, Adara, Ham, etc . To get round that, you zoned Southern Kaduna with FRCN Enugu. Can you beat that? As such FRCN Kaduna continues to broadcast in only Hausa, Fufulde and English ignoring the other major anguages in Kaduna State. Yet I am told Southern Kaduna is intolerable.

Someone actually said Southern Kaduna and Northern Kaduna shouldn’t be in one country how much of one State. Culturally we are different and yet Southern kaduna people are being told they are intolerable.

The Southern Kaduna man cannot be VC of ABU a supposed Federal institution it appears, yet I am being told Southern Kaduna are intolerable.

In the early 1970s, Southern Kaduna people opened up Rigasa, a suburb of Kaduna Metropolis, but down the road Southern Kaduna people have been killed and their properties destroyed - those who survived had to relocate to other parts of Kaduna town - I am not sure if there is any Christian or church(es) in Rigasa as at 2020. Yet the Southern Kaduna man is being told he is intolerable.

You abandoned the long existing Kaduna railway main junction and took the terminal railway station to Rigasa with the creation of the Abuja-Kaduna rail line. The old Kaduna railway station is now a dry Port. Yet Southern Kaduna is intolerable?

In the process of imposing Sharia in Kaduna, Miss World contest, Danish cartoon, 2011 election, and many more incidents, the Southern Kaduna man is killed and yet is said to be intolerable.

When Katsina state was excised from Kaduna state, Katsina still keeps an eye on Kaduna. You are still controlling the present Kaduna State, and yet Southern Kaduna is intolerable?

You have two federal ministerial appointments and everybody in top government position is from Northern Kaduna or Katsina and yet Southern Kaduna is intolerable?

I am not allowed to do my business of selling alcohol in some Northern parts and yet you benefit from the VAT where alcohol is sold. Southern kaduna is intolerable?

You changed the names of my languages. For example, Bajju became Kaje, Atyab became Kataf, Ham became Jaba, etc. You even renamed our towns and villages. Our languages are disdained and yet I am told I am intolerable?

State resources are used to promote one religion by funding Arabic Teachers Colleges, with no similar gesture to the Christians, yet Southern Kaduna is intolerable?

You came to Southern Kaduna and we welcomed you. You see every Muslim even from the moon as your brother, but you give me a derogatory name, 'arne' or a non-believer even though Christians are acknowledged in your religion as people of the book.

There is so much greed and wickedness. eg cornered almost all federal institutions in Northern Kaduna and still Southern kaduna man is intolerable.

Cornered federal allocated positions to the state and if you cannot fill it you allocate it to katsina than consider a Southern Kaduna man and yet you say Southern Kaduna man is intolerable.

If Southern Kaduna ask for their fair share, you say they are only 30% of the population of the state - this is a lie - you have manipulated the constituencies to your advantage that one can only call this rigging at source. Yet, Southern Kaduna is intolerable?

Southern Kaduna built Christian schools which you attended, which you later took over ownership without compensation. When the Southern Kaduna man complains, you say he is intolerable?

You are quick to send condolence messages to other countries who lose the lives of their citizens, but either keep mute or explain away the killings in Southern Kaduna, yet Southern Kaduna is accused of being intolerable.

We are being killed in Southern Kaduna and you keep telling the world that the killing is being organised by Southern Kaduna elites? If you know this, why haven't you arrested them? Yet Southern Kaduna is intolerable?

We are talking about centuries of subjugations and discriminations and physical eliminations of the citizens of Southern Kaduna. Here come some paid megaphone critics now saying we have no reasons to cry? What a sad and a diabolical tale.

This is from a many Decades Southern Kaduna man experience. I will tell you my name but it is not like yours for I wanted you to read this because you would probably not read it if you see that my name is not anything near yours.

Note: Dear reader, the above and many others are the experiences of Southern Kaduna for the past many Decades. Decide whether or not Southern Kaduna people are intolerable.

cc Casimir Biriyok