Southern Kaduna Union decries government ‘laxity’ in killings

As crisis continues in parts of Kaduna State, resulting to killings of scores of people and the destruction of properties, the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union has called for dialogue with the Fulani community.

Speaking with reporters in Kano on Sunday, the national secretary-general of the group, Anto Ogah, said the only way to establish peace would be genuine dialogue between the host communities and the Fulanis, who are accused of carrying out the killings.

He spoke during the swearing-in of a new leadership of the Kano chapter of the union. Amos Dogo is the secretary-general of the chapter.

“There is a seeming laxity on the part of specifically the Kaduna State Government to be proactive in stopping the wanton killings of innocent lives, where attacks are being carried out for about two days before anything is being done leaves much to be desired,” he said.

“For example the government was quoted to have said the killings were reprisals to the killings of Fulani men in 2011. But we challenge the government in Sango local government (that) they had never participated in any attacks on anybody. But in 2014, about 200 peoples were killed and buried no arrest were made or anything up till this moment.”

Mr. Anto said “the same thing (happened) in Gwadogwado. Government had the information about attacks for two days but no single security was sent there and nobody is saying anything about it, therefore these laxity calls for serious dialogue between the Fulani’s and the entire Southern Kaduna peoples.”

Although the secretary-general expressed happiness at the news of recent show of concern of the government, he said the Fulanis should be made to understand that they too have no place than Southern Kaduna and need live in peace.

“This is not story or jokes, the very Fulani people that are behind these attacks should also know that they are destroying their own family because for over 100 years they have been in Southern Kaduna, and the Miyetti Allah should be also proactive in educating their people against unnecessary killings of innocent lives, we as brothers we are ready to sit with them and have dialogue,” Mr. Anto assured.