Over 200 armed bandits invade Kaduna communities

The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), the umbrella body of Southern Kaduna people,

has decried unrelenting invasion of several communities of Gbagyi natives in Chikun LG area of the State, by armed bandits and kidnappers.

The Union also revealed that for the five days, villages of Kuduru, Tawali, Unguwan Madaki and  Katarma, in Chikun LG areas near to the border between Kaduna and Niger states, have been under severe attacks by armed bandits and kidnappers.

A statement issued and signed by the union’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr.  Luka Binniyat, on Tuesday stated that armed bandits and kidnappers, numbering over 200, “are riding on motorcycles and heavily armed with AK-47 rifles.

Titled invasions of GbagyiI communities in Chikun local government: A call for action”, the Union, in the statement described the act as “unrelenting impunity with which several Gbagyi communities in Chikun Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna state on its boundary with Niger state are being invaded by armed bandits and kidnappers.

The Union therefore called on the attention of the public and government to the invasion.

“Before the coming of the present National leadership of SOKAPU, it was informed about the humongous violent crimes committed against several Gbagyi communities in Chukun Local Government Area, but curiously, with little or no mention in the media over the years for the public to know of the level of atrocities going on there.

“We wish to bring to the attention of the public and the government that for the past five days, the villages of Kuduru, Tawali, Unguwan Madaki and  Katarma, all in  Chikun LGA, close to the border between Kaduna and Niger states have been under severe attacks by armed bandits and kidnappers numbering over 200, riding on motorcycles and heavily armed with AK-47 rifles. These invaders, who took the villagers by storm and went only in the wee hours of the night, had continued to kill, maim, destroy, loot, sacked and occupy these villages with impunity even as at today, Saturday the 4th of January, 2019.

“Being unarmed and not forewarned, all the village youths of these communities could do was to reduce the level of casualty by assisting to evacuate women, children and the infirmed into nearby bushes carrying little or nothing with them in terms of food and clothing. After days in the bushes, the beleaguered victims have found their ways to Sarkin Pawa town, in Niger State, trekking for days and crossing by canoe to their neighbours in Niger State.

“In all the affected villages, foodstuff, cows, goats, sheep, motorcycles and other household items belonging to the villagers have been taken over as the invaders are currently occupying the villages unchallenged by the Nigeria military, police or any security agency”, it stated.

“Information available to us has it that in Tawali village, six persons were kidnapped and nothing has been heard of them ever since. The ECWA Church in the village was not spared as it was burnt down completely. Also, a young lad, by name Ezra Bala (16), who is a student of Government College Kwoi, was shot dead in Kuduru  village during the attack.

“The attack, expulsion and occupation have continued at the time of releasing this statement as more communities have come under similar siege.They are: Zoko Yako, Sabon Gida Katarma and  Unguwan Sarki, Bwadana, and  Kwayipe. In Kwayipe, one person, whose name was given as Dimas, was shot but escaped with fatal injuries. He was lucky to be helped to Sarkin Pawa, where he has been rushed to Minna, Niger state for urgent medical attention.

“We hereby call on government to look into this ugly development and take urgent necessary steps to address these perennial crimes against the humanity in these Gbagyi communities of Chikun LGA.

“We also call on the  elected representatives of the affected communities to please urgently attend to these affected communities within their constituencies and laiase with relevant government Agencies to provide security, welfare and other essential needs their electorates in distress”, the statement added.