…Accuse Aruwan of acting on behalf of a politically ascendant Islamist/Fulani power network
Caroline Cox, an independent member of the UK House of Lords, and Dr. John Eibner, the president of Christian Solidarity International, have written to Luka Binniyat, a journalist imprisoned for his reporting on massacres of Christians in his native southern Kaduna state.
“We admire greatly the courage and determination you have shown in exposing the atrocity crimes committed against the people of Southern Kaduna and elsewhere in the Middle Belt,” they wrote, “especially those that target the region’s defenseless Christian communities.”
Binniyat, a Nigeria Reportcontributor, was arrested on 4 November for his reporting on the massacre of 38 Christians in Madamai village in southern Kaduna state. He has been detained ever since.
“It is known throughout the world that you were thrown into prison on the orders of a state security agent, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, acting on behalf of a politically ascendant Islamist/Fulani power network,” Cox and Eibner wrote. “As a result, you have been kept there for over two months without bail.”
As Cox and Eibner notes in their letter, on 27 January, the court finally granted Binniyat bail, but under conditions that are difficult to meet. As of this writing, he remains in jail while his supporters assemble the guarantees required by the judge.
“The way the authorities deal with you has all the hallmarks of the political persecution of a journalist and human rights defender,” Cox and Eibner concluded. “While they intend your imprisonment to be an intimidating display of power, it in fact reveals profound weakness on their part. The mighty inevitably become fearful when light is shed on atrocity crimes and the perpetrators who remain unpunished.”
Security forces have reported to the Kaduna State Government that Kurmin Masara general area of Zangon Kataf LGA was attacked in the early hours of today.
According to the reports, troops of the Nigerian Air Force Special Forces who responded to distress calls from the area also fell into an ambush as they mobilized to the scene of the attack.
The troops cleared the ambush and reached the general area, along with troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH).
As of 4:30PM, eleven residents were confirmed killed, and some inflicted with gunshot injuries.
The victims confirmed killed are listed as follows:
Elizabeth Ayuba
Veronica Auta
Bege Daniel
Kephas Waje
Promise Jacob
Damaris istifanus
Hauwa Joshua
Dogara Gambo
Lidia Ishaya
Michael Achi
Gabriel Michael
Over thirty houses and properties were burnt in the attack.
The injured were evacuated for treatment. Search-and-rescue operations and pursuit of the attackers are in progress on different fronts.
The Government of Kaduna State will make public further details as soon as they are received from security forces.
Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i, who has been in touch with the security forces and is receiving hourly briefings, expressed sadness at this report of the latest in a series of attacks in the area.
He prayed for the repose of all those killed and conveyed his condolences to their families. He further wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Signed
Samuel Aruwan Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State.
Many villagers are feared killed after terrorists suspected to be Fulani herdsmen militia in the early hours of Sunday attacked Atak-Mawe (Kurmin Masara) community in Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna state, North-West Nigeria.
A source who confirmed the attack to Middle Belt Times said the terrorists invaded the community at about 3am on Sunday and began shooting sporadically.
As of the time of filing this report, this newspaper could not authoritatively confirm the casualty figure even though the source said many are feared killed and many house destroyed by the attackers.
Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara State has said part of the reason for the persistence of banditry is the non-punishment of the apprehended criminals, saying many times bandits are released without being charged.
Matawalle spoke on Wednesday when he received the Federal Government delegation on sympathy visit to the state over the recent attacks on some communities in Anka and Bukkuyum Local Government Areas of the state.
The members of the delegation, which was headed by the Minister of Defence, Major-General Bashir Salihi Magashi (rtd), were the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Munguno rtd, Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali.
Others are Minister for Police Affairs Alhaji Maigari Dingyadi, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Umar Farouk, and Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media Garba Shehu.
“Another problem we have noticed is that despite the remarkable zeal of our troops, they lack modern equipment with which to prosecute modern warfare. Prosecution of modern warfare depends largely on modern war equipment and gadgets. It is very vital for these modern war instruments to be provided to our troops if we are to win this fight against banditry in Zamfara and the North West”
“It is evident that unless enough modern equipment is provided to our security forces to fight the war effectively, the country faces the danger of anarchy. This could be foreseen from the recent calls by some leaders for their people to take up arms to defend themselves. It is a recipe for lawlessness when the state loses its monopoly over the instruments of coercion.
“As a matter of urgency, the Federal Government should procure Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) and deploy them across all parts of the country. If 1000 APCs could be made available, they would go a long way in turning the tide of the war against the bandits in a short period of time, Insha Allah.
“I want to draw the attention of the Federal Government to the fact that the pockets of insurgencies in many parts of the north are interrelated. In some instances, evidence has been found of connection between Boko Haram and some of the bandit groups operating in the northwest.
“There should be a comprehensive review of our strategy of fighting insurgency. We need a more workable plan of action tailored explicitly in tune with the realities on the ground. This is a clarion call for us to step up efforts in this fight before the dreadful monster consumes our region and the country as a whole.
“I would like to add that any strategy to be drawn for fighting banditry and all forms of insurgency should focus greater attention on Zamfara State. Our forests have become fortresses for bandits, from where they plan and launch attacks to other parts of the northwest,” he added.
He said as part of the strategy, special forces should be deployed to some black spots, particularly identified to be more dangerous centres of activities of the bandits.
Matawalle said in his administration’s search for peace, he built cooperation not just with the affected states but with the authorities of the Niger Republic. They had also employed Service Hunters and provided them with motorcycles and allowances.
He said they had paid the Service Hunters the sum of N53 million, in addition to their full upkeep. In the aftermath of the recent attacks in Anka and Bukkuyum Local Government Areas, they had expended the sum of N250 million to provide vehicles, and allowances for both the Civilian JTF and the conventional security outfits.
Earlier, Magashi said the federal government is all out to bring an end to killings plaguing the country, adding that they are on top of the situation.
He said the federal government is doing much better in order to secure the country assuring that killings of this magnitude would never happen again and that federal would come to the aid of the victims of the attacks.
For his continued romance with bandits, the Department of State Services should invite popular Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, for questioning, Christian youths under the aegis of the Christian Association of Nigeria (Youth Wing) said on Sunday.
The organisation was reacting to the reported invitation of the Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese, Fr. Matthew Hassan Kukah, by the DSS for his comments on the state of the nation in which he pounded the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari.(retd.)
The President of YOWICAN, Belusochukwu Enwere, said these in a statement issued on Sunday titled, ‘We will mobilise christian youths across the country to answer DSS invitation of Bishop Kukah.’
Enwere said, “The attention of YOWICAN has been drawn to the purported invitation extended to Bishop Hassan Kukah, Bishop of Sokoto Diocese. Bishop Kukah committed no offense; rather, the government should channel her energy in the fight to liberate the country from terrorists and bandits.
“Recently, more than 200 people were killed and villagers displaced in Zamfara State. This is disheartening indeed. We will mobilise all Christian youths across the country to honour this invitation.
“The DSS has extended her invitation to us not Bishop Kukah and we will honour it. The DSS should first invite Ahmad Gumi for questioning for interfacing with bandits.
“Controversial Islamic cleric, Ahmad Gumi, has advised people in the terrorised North West of Nigeria on how they can live in peace with the armed bandits occupying their forests.”
YOWICAN quoted Gumi as saying that people can develop “mutual relationship with the bandits without being harmed”.
According to Enwere, Gumi has been “fraternizing with the bandits and he has been working freely without any invitation from the DSS or police.”
He said, “The DSS has invited Bishop Matthew Kukah for questioning days after the prominent Catholic priest ramped up his criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to curb nationwide insecurity.
“Bishop Kukah had slammed President Buhari in his Christmas sermon, saying the Nigerian leader has failed to show competence as terrorists, bandits and other violent criminals embark on a coordinated and relentless rampage across the country.”
The Nigerian Government has officially proscribed banditry in Nigeria.
This development was contained in a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA by the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday. It can be recalled that the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN) disclosed that the Federal Government was planning to officially designate bandits as terrorists because the government is following international best practices.
He said his office was in the process of gazetting a court judgement that ordered the government to declare bandits as terrorists, adding that the process would be concluded in a matter of days.
Speaking on Tuesday to NTA, Malami had stated; “Government has a responsibility to act but within the context of acting, you equally expected to operate within the confines of international best practices associated with engagement and one of such best practices is that you can only use maximum force on groups, individuals that are declared terrorists and that is where the application of the Terrorism Act comes in place.”
“With that in mind, Nigeria acted, first by proscribing IPOB, taking into consideration the threats to lives and properties they have caused in the nation. Boko Haram was proscribed.”
“The gazetting of a court order or judgement is a process but what matters fundamentally within the context of international convention is the judicial declaration and that has been obtained; the court has declared bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers as terrorists.”
“So, with or without the gazette, what gives effect to such declaration is a judicial pronouncement but the gazette is a mere formality and it has been on and I believe within a matter of days, it will be concluded.”
The Zamfara State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of 97 persons abducted by bandits in Shinkafi and Tsafe Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Briefing newsmen at the Command Headquarters in Gusau on Tuesday January 4, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ayuba Elkanah, revealed that those freed included seven pregnant women, 19 babies, and 16 minors.
The CP explained that 68 people were released in Shinkafi while 29 others regained freedom in Tsafe.
“Following an extensive pressure mounted as a result of the ongoing Military operation around the camp of a notorious bandit’s kingpin known as Bello Turji that covers Shinkafi, Zurmi and Birnin Magaji Local Government areas. On 3rd January, 2022, Police Tactical operatives deployed at Shinkafi axis received an intelligence report that, some kidnapped victims were seen stranded in the bush,” the police commissioner stated.
“The Police operatives in collaboration with genuine repentant bandits and vigilante swung into action and rescued sixty eight (68) victims from the forest. The victims were in captivity for over three months and they include 33 male adult, 7 male children, 3 female children and 25 women including pregnant/nursing mothers respectively. The victims held from Magarya, Maradun, Gusau of Zamfara State and Sabon Birni LGA in Sokoto State.”
The police boss said that 29 victims were rescued from 60 days after they were abducted from three villages in Tsafe Local Government Area.
“On Monday 3rd January, 2022, Police Tactical operatives deployed in Tsafe axis acted on intelligence report and stormed Kunchin Kalgo forest in Tsafe LGA and rescued twenty nine (29) kidnapped victims unconditionally,” he said.
“The victims were abducted for over 60 days from three villages namely; Adarawa, Gana and Bayawuri in Rijiya District of Gusau LGA, they include 25 female including pregnant/nursing mothers and 4 male children. The victims were said to have been abducted by a Bandits’ kingpin Ado Aleru
“All the rescued victims are currently receiving medical treatment from the joint medical teams of the State Government and the Police. They will be debriefed, hand over to the State Government before being reunited with their families.”
There is tension in Edo state as scores of persons with some of them dressed in military uniform and suspected to be Fulani herdsman have reportedly invaded a farming community known as 2nd Abumere Ojigbelu Camp in Ovia Northeast Local Government Area of Edo State and chased the villagers away.
They are also alleged to have taken over their farms, homes and properties.
Some of the villagers who have run away for their lives and now taking refuge in other communities around Okada narrate their ordeal.
The armed men were said to have been chased away from the Okada area from where they ran to near Benin City.
One of the displaced farmers who incidentally is from Taraba State, Mr Mattu Alli, said: I am short of words to explain what I witnessed, yesterday (2nd) in our community.
“I have been here for the past 20 years with my family farming. I was in my compound with my family when we started to hear the sound of guns and people running to different directions, I saw one Benin man running towards my compound.
“I asked him where are you running to and he said herdsmen have taken over the village chasing people away from their houses.
“So I called my wife and we had to run for our lives. I did not see my children. Every one of us ran in different directions. As I speak to you now, I don’t know the whereabouts of my wife and children.
“Another thing that put fears into our minds is that one of the Fulani herdsmen pointed a gun at me and said look man we are for peace, we would only kill you, people, if you refuse to allow our cows to feed on your crops.
“The yams you people have are for our cows, the cassava and all that you have are for our cows. If you people touch our cows we will kill everybody in this village.
“For us to be safe we ran to the next community.”
Another victim, Mr Sunday Chimen, said: “Suddenly we heard gunshots and people running, we later discovered that Fulani herdsmen with AK-47 have taken over our community and were threatening to kill us if we didn’t cooperate with them. We decided to run for our dear lives leaving our properties with our children running to an unknown place.
“We are calling on the security agencies to come to our aid as our community is under siege.”
When contacted, Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP kotongs Bello, said he has not been briefed on the development and promised to get back as soon as he finished speaking with the Division Police Officer in charge of the area, but was yet to do so as at press time.
Terrorists on Saturday launched an attack on the dreaded Kagoma-Kafanchan Road in Jema’a local government area of Kaduna state, killing one traveler and abducting some.
An eye witness told Middle Belt Times that the attack took place between 6pm and 7pm on Saturday.
Honorable Josiah Yahaya a former chairmanship candidate in Kagarko local government confirmed the attack to Middle Belt Times via telephone.
He said the attack took place between Kagoma and Afana axis of the road.
“We were returning from Kafanchan where my daughter got wedded yesterday, we just passed Kagoma, approaching Afana when the bandits opened fire on my vehicle.
“I was the one driving, the fire was so intense and sporadic, I managed to move away from them but my younger brother, Engineer Joshua Akau was not so lucky as he was hit by a bullet.
“We rushed him to the hospital but on getting there the doctors confirmed him dead.” Josiah said.
The eyewitness also confirmed that another vehicle was attacked and an unspecified number of passengers were reportedly abducted along the same road.
“The soldiers who came to our rescue told us that they saw an empty vehicle parked on the road, close to the scene.
“The soldiers said the occupants of the vehicle must have been abducted by the bandits.
“According to the soldiers, an Identity card belonging to a former Federal lawmaker representing Jaba/Zangon Kataf constituency, Hon. Geoffrey Gayya was found in the vehicle.” He said.
As of the time of filling this report, Middle Belt Times could not independently verify whether the former lawmaker was among those abducted.
The Kagoma-Kafanchan road is known for criminal activities suspected to be perpetrated by herdsmen militia operating in Southern Kaduna.
Recall that in October 2021, terrorists suspected to be herdsmen attacked St. Albert the Great Institute of Philosophy, a Catholic Seminary situated situated at Fayit community, Kagoma Chiefdom in the Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State and abducted some seminarians.
The Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, has called on residents of the state to arm themselves and confront bandits because security officials alone cannot tackle insecurity in the state.
Katsina, like other North-west states of Zamfara, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kebbi, has witnessed incessant attacks by terror groups.
Hundreds of people have been killed or kidnapped in Katsina this year with thousands more displaced from their homes.
Speaking during a media parley with journalists at the Muhammadu Buhari House in Katsina, Mr Masari said the number of security personnel is not enough to tackle the situation.
“It’s Islamically allowed for one to defend himself against attack. One must rise to defend himself, his family and assets. If you die while trying to defend yourself, you’ll be considered a martyr. It’s surprising how a bandit would own a gun while a good man trying to defend himself and his family doesn’t have one,” the governor said.
Mr Masari said the state government would help those who plan to own arms with the view to help bring an end to banditry.
“We’ll support those who come with the initiative to procure arms because residents need to also complement the efforts of security agencies. These people (security agents) don’t have the number to protect the people. When President Buharicame, he even tried by increasing the number of our security agents but it’s inadequate. Count it yourself, how many policemen do we have in this country? How many soldiers do we have?
“Even if we say every policeman should go back to his home state, it’ll still not be enough. So, if we fold arms and decide to do nothing, we’ll be the ones to suffer most,” he lamented.
Mr Masari said the police would register all guns bought by the residents to ensure they are put to the right use.
The governor also said that the next president of the country should come from the south.
“Let me make my position very clear. This constitution is made for us, not us made for the constitution. Yes, constitution does not say we must shift power, but if you shift, have you violated any part of the constitution?”
“I still believe that, from my personal opinion as Aminu Bello Masari, until such a time when we have stable polity, I think rotation or shifting power from time to time will help consolidate our confederation. I support that and I still maintain my stand and I have the constitutional right to make such comment,” he said.
Mr Masari’s party, APC, has not adopted power shift or rotation of the presidency in its laws. While some leaders of the party support power shift, others are against it.
Should rotation of the president’s office be adopted, then President Buhari, who is from Katsina State, would be succeeded by someone from Southern Nigeria.
