Again, gunmen attack Sanga village, kill 5

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The relative peace being enjoyed by the people of Kaduna state, especially Southern part, was relatively disrupted yesterday as unknown gunmen carried out an early morning raid on Unguwan Dauda village, Sanga Local Government Area, which left five people dead and most of the village razed.

The National President of Ninzom Progressive Youth, (NPY), Mr. Bezah Wuya, confirmed the incidence at the same time blaming Kaduna state government and elders of the Southern Kaduna for the maiming and killing.

Similarly, a civil rights organization, Centrum Initiative For Fundamental Right Advocacy, CEDRA, confirmed the incidence while it also blamed government of Kaduna state and the elders of Southern Kaduna.

Kaduna State Police Spokesperson, DSP Aminu Lawan, did not pick several phone calls, neither did he or his aides responded to text messages sent him yesterday.

Wuyah who spoke to the media from the scene of the incident, about 350km South of Kaduna metropolis, said: “Fulani men in their teens came down an adjoining hill here and opened fire on the sleeping villagers around 4am today.

“They have been herding their cattle into rice farms here, resulting to several quarrels between them and the villagers. But, I can assure you that not a single Fulani man was hurt in the entire times they have been provoking our people.

“It therefore came without warning, when they swoop on this village. So far, we can confirm five dead, including a baby from this Unguwan Dauda. As I speak to you, some have not returned from the bushes they escaped to. Most of the village has also been razed down.

“We are appealing to Kaduna State government to increase the number of security men and soldiers in Sanga. We fear that the worse may come during Christmas, which is a few days ahead,” he said.

CEDRA in a statement signed by Dr. John Danfulani, and made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday, stated: “In the early hours of today 17th December, 2014 well armed bandits attacked Ungwan Dauda in Sanga local government area of Kaduna state and killed five persons and burnt several houses in the community. Among those killed were one year old infant and his mother, whose father was brutally killed in an ambush on Monday.

“The same bandits wielding sophisticated weapons engaged soldiers that advanced to the community and it took soldiers hours engaging them in gun duel before the bandits retreated.

“This killing and maiming stand condemned. It is also clear that Kaduna state government is all about winning 2015 elections and not bothered about the increasing violence in the area and lives being wasted in the state.

Furthermore, we are condemning act of silence by leadership of Southern Kaduna Elders Consultative Forum.

Also, according to Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, SOKAPU, not less than 4,200 people have been killed in Sanga LGA, since the violence started last April.