Kaduna Crisis: 50 Villagers Killed, 254 Houses, 7 Churches Destroyed – Paramount Ruler

Posted by Nwa Diokpa Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Tuesday, September 21st, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The paramount ruler of Atyap Chiefdom, Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State, Agwatyap Dominic Gambo Yahaya, has kicked against the unending attacks by suspected herdsmen in the area.

According to Yahaya, the militia/bandits have in the last few days killed no fewer than 50 villagers, destroyed 254 homes and 7 churches in the Atyap Chiefdom in just two months.

The Agwatyap in a statement he signed stated that the unrestrained violence unleashed on poor, defenceless, innocent farmers of Atyap land had come to a state where no farmer could venture out to the farmland since the chances of returning home alive was uncertain.

He said: “I have kept faith with the peace efforts embarked on by all the communities in the kingdom, aimed at enthroning sustainable peace in the land by consistently restraining the youth from taking the laws into their hands in any form of reactions or reprisal, else, the situation could have escalated beyond control.”

Yahaya frowned that the incessant killings have come to the state of provocation almost beyond control and he stated also that the peace process had not brought any meaningful development.

He said: “The following day, Sunday 12th September, suspected herdsmen invaded the community of Apyiah Ajiim, few hundred metres from the spot of Saturday’s attack, killing 12 people, in another round of recurring attacks on the Atyap community. The victims included: six women (two heavily pregnant), three men and three children.

“This occurred after the communities of Gora Gida, Wawa Rafi, Warkan, Manyie-Aywie, Ahtak- Kanai, Magata, Magauri, Matyei, Abuyab, Magamia, Makarau, Mayayit, Manchong, Ma’door and a host of other communities were serially attacked, where no fewer than 50 villagers were massacred, 254 homes and 7 churches burnt in an unrestrained violence unleashed on poor, defenceless, innocent farmers of Atyap land.”

Yahaya tasked the federal and the state governments to come to the aid of the homeless peasants saying that no fewer than 15,000 of them are now in internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camps.