SOKAPU Youth Calls for Self Defense, Condemns Latest Killing and Abduction in Ungwan Gimbiya

By Steven Kefas

The Youth Wing of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has renewed it call for self defense amongst communities that have been repeatedly sacked by terrorists and jihadists group they believe migrated from the Northeastern part of the country and are ravaging the area.

In the statement signed by it’s national Youth Leader, Isaac John, the group condemned in strong terms the latest killings of two people and the abduction of 28 people from Ungwan Gimbiya by terrorists.

Recall that on Friday 3rd December, terrorists suspected to be Fulani herdsmen militias launched a ferocious attack on Ungwan Gimbiya community in the Sabon Tasha, Chikun local government area of the state.

“The Youth wing of the southern Kaduna Peoples union has continue to observe with sadness the unabated sacking of its communities by terrorists disguising as bandits.

“The recent killings of two of our kinsmen and the adoption of countless others at Ungwan Gimbiya in Sabon Tasha, a town within Kaduna metropolis has left us perturbed as to the functionality of our Security architecture and the readiness of Government at all levels to tame the rising wave of criminality across the state and the country at large.” The group said.

The group also berated the manner with which terrorists now launch attacks even in urban areas unabated and also called on the security agencies to rid the area of terrorists.

“The rate at which criminals now freely go about committing crimes is alarming.
While we sincerely wish to condole with the immediate families of those who lost their lives as a result of this heartless and barbaric attack, we wish to call on the Nigerian police, Nigerian Air force, Nigerian Army and the Department of State Services to as a matter of urgency carry out a rescue operation to ensure the safe return of all the adducted persons. More importantly we want to use this medium to challenge the security forces to comb the entire forest surrounding Southern Kaduna.” The group said.

SOKAPU Youth also alleged that terrorists and jihadists have found safe haven within the forest in the region from where they launch attacks on unsuspecting communities.

“It is our believe that criminal elements, terrorist groups and Jihadists from the North East have found safe haven within these forest areas.
Brethren it is only biblical to sale off your pair of shoes to afford the necessary means of protecting your homes and offspring.” The group said.

The youth group also called on the people of Southern Kaduna to be vigilant and defend their communities against terrorists, saying that no one goes to sleep knowing that the thief comes afterwards to rob them.

“How then thou goeth to bed with your eyes closed when thou knoweth the devil cometh not just to steal but to destroy.
We urge you all to be vigilant and pro active at this perilous time, avoid keeping late nights and report any suspicious movement to the relevant authorities.

“May our good Lord continue to protect us and may the souls of the departed rest in peace in Jesus name.” The statement concluded.

JUST IN: Terrorists Attack Kaduna Community, Kill 2, Abduct 28

By Steven Kefas

Terrorists suspected to be Fulani herdsmen militia in the early hours of Friday, 3rd December invaded Ungwan Gimbiya Community in Sabon Tasha area in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state, North West Nigeria and abducted 28 residents.

The Ward Councillor of Sabon Tasha, confirmed the attack to Middle Belt Times via telephone, describing it as unfortunate.

“I can confirm to you that Ungwan Gimbiya was attacked early this morning and 28 persons were abducted while two others were killed.” Honourable Makama Dauda said

According to another source in the community, the terrorists came in while the people were fast asleep and visited about a dozens families.

The attack lasted for about 2 hours with heavy gunshots another resident who pleaded anonymity told Middle Belt Times.

Friday’s attack is said to be the worst in recent times as more people were abducted than ever before, says another resident who gave his name as Timothy.

“This is the worst we’ve ever had, they used to come here to kidnap people but today’s own was something else.” He said

Timothy also confirmed that two people were killed by the terrorists during the attack.

Kaduna state has been in the news for incessant attack on communities and highways across the state.

The state government, last week lifted a ban imposed on telecommunication networks in some parts of the state after over one month of network shutdown.

JUST IN: Terrorists Abduct 28 People in Kaduna

By Steven Kefas

Terrorists suspected to be Fulani herdsmen militia in the early hours of Friday, 3rd December invaded Ungwan Gimbiya Community in Sabon Tasha area in Chikun local government area of Kaduna state, North West Nigeria and abducted 28 residents, Ward Councillor says.

“I can confirm to you that Ungwan Gimbiya was attacked and 28 persons were abducted while two other people were killed.” Honourable Makama Dauda said

According to another source in the community, the terrorists came in while the people were fast asleep and visited about a dozens families.

The attack lasted for about 2 hours with heavy gunshots another resident who pleaded anonymity told Middle Belt Times.

Friday’s attack is said to be the worst in recent times as more people were abducted than ever before, says another resident who gave his name as Timothy.

“This is the worst we’ve ever had, they used to come here to kidnap people but today’s own was something else.” He said

Timothy also confirmed that two people were killed by the terrorists during the attack.

Kaduna state has been in the news for incessant attack on communities and highways across the state.

The state government, last week lifted a ban imposed on telecommunication networks in some parts of the state after over one month of network shutdown.

New Report Exposes Years of Human Rights Abuses by Wealthy Nigerian Governor

Human rights watchdog group International Christian Concern (ICC) released a report earlier today profiling Nigerian Governor Nasir El-Rufai and analyzing his years-long pattern of punishing Christian communities in Kaduna State. While militant groups contribute to religious persecution in Nigeria, No Protest Allowed highlights another major source of persecution in Nigeria—the government. 

Since taking office as Governor of Kaduna State in May 2015, El-Rufai has repeatedly endangered Christian communities by ordering them into strict lockdowns. These lockdown orders—which trap villagers in their homes—prevent villagers from organizing early warning systems and make militant attacks even more deadly as villagers no longer have the warning they need to flee impending attacks. 

Despite international condemnation of these lockdown orders, El-Rufai has continued to punish Christians using this technique. In 2020, he locked down a Christian-majority agricultural area for over two months during planting season. Militants, taking advantage of his lockdown orders, killed over 100 Christian villagers during that time. 

In addition to chronicling several of these lockdowns, No Protest Allowed exposes El-Rufai’s immense wealth and his family’s extensive international travel including to London, Paris, New York, Dubai, and the Caribbean. 

Dubbed the “reformist governor” by the Economist, El-Rufai’s carefully-groomed image as a man of the people began to crumble as ICC researchers combed through the El-Rufai family’s social media presence. While El-Rufai has loudly publicized his decision to enroll some of his children in Kaduna’s public school system, ICC researchers found that he quietly sent at least one of his children to a private school in Canada where annual tuition is about $44,000 USD per year. Another social media post showed his family drinking sparkling apple juice infused with 24kt gold flakes at the Burj al Arab hotel in Dubai. 

Nigeria goes to great effort to cast itself as a beleaguered nation struggling valiantly against sectarian violence. Secular democracy, the narrative goes, is the guiding principle governing Nigeria—any deviation from that is the fault of malicious nonstate actors intending to spoil what they cannot control. 

Nigeria does suffer from sectarian violence—it is estimated that Boko Haram is responsible for over 35,000 deaths and that Fulani militants have killed from 20,000-50,000 in the last decade or so—but the idea that the government is an impartial player doing its best to promote justice and freedom for all is simply wrong. 

A self-proclaimed admirer of China’s Den Xiaoping, El-Rufai recently resurrected a military-era rule regulating pastors and their sermons. The regulations are striking similar to Chinese regulations and do not bode well for the future of religious freedom in Kaduna. 

“El-Rufai’s actions endanger thousands and help to illustrate the deeply problematic nature of government persecution in Nigeria,” said Jay Church, the report’s author and ICC’s Advocacy Manager for Africa. “ICC hopes that the international community takes note of El-Rufai’s consistent pattern of persecution in Kaduna State and responds accordingly. We call on the U.S. and others to sanction El-Rufai for his egregious violations of human rights and hope to see those sanctions come about in the near future.”

(International Christian Concern)

ISWAP Terrorists Abduct 15 Passengers, Including Aid Workers In Borno, Take Them Into Sambisa Forest

At least 15 people have been reportedly kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be fighters of the Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP), near Gumsuri village in the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The insurgents, who mounted a checkpoint and dressed in military camouflage, waylaid motorists and forcibly took them into Sambisa Forest, a source told Daily Trust. 

Some staff members of international non-governmental organisations were among the victims, the report revealed.

The victims, said to be mostly young people, had reportedly left Damboa town for Adamawa on Wednesday.

“It is unfortunate that the insurgents continue their nefarious activities on the fringe of Sambisa forests, we have received reports that ISWAP kidnapped at least 15 persons (passengers) near Gumsuri village while allowing two others to go.

“They are desperate to recruit more people into their criminal activities. They deceived people because they dressed in military attire. It is sad and shocking,” a security source said.

Five officials of the Borno State government had earlier been abducted by ISWAP terrorists.

The victims who were supervising the construction of Chibok-Damboa Road, were forcefully taken away on Wednesday.

The incident occurred near Wovi, a remote village in the Chibok Local Government Area of the state.

Credit: SR

Two soldiers, 26 ISWAP terrorists die in battle as Nigerian military unleashes Super Tucano Jet recently acquired from US

A Super Tucano jet in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) fleet have eliminated ISWAP terrorists and destroyed their gun trucks in Gajiram, Borno State.
PRNigeria gathered the terrorists in several gun trucks attempted to overrun the town when the aircraft arrived at the scene.

During a coordinated military offensive between the air task force and the ground troops, large sophisticated weapons were also recovered.
A military intelligence officer told PRNigeria that at least 26 bodies of the terrorists were recovered after the aerial bombardment.

“The aircraft arrived timely and bombarded the locations of the terrorists and burned some of them beyond recognition.
“We have so far counted 26 bodies of the terrorists but unfortunately we lost two gallant soldiers while tackling other fleeing enemies.
“More bodies of the terrorists could be seen from afar in their burning trucks along Kunli village road and on the eastern side of the town.”

PRNigeria recalls that the Nigerian military recently took delivery of the batches of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft from the United States to aid the fight against insecurity in the northeast and other parts of the country.
The A-29 Super Tucano performs intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and precision air-to-ground strikes, strengthening Nigeria’s ability to fight terrorism.

(PRNigeria)

JUST IN: Gunmen attack Jos Correctional Centre

Yet to be identified gunmen, on Sunday evening launched a daring attack on the Jos Correctional Centre (Prison).

As at the time of filling this report, details of the attack was still sketchy as no victim has been reported dead or injured despite, heavy gunfire heard by residents of the area.

A resident of the area told Middle Belt Times that they heard heavy gunfire around the facility housing the correctional center but could not comment further on the nature of the attack.

Developing story….

You Should Be In Jail By Now If Nigeria Were A Sane Society– IPOB Slams Islamic Cleric, Gumi For Comparing Group With Bandits

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has lambasted the Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi for comparing the group with bandits.

IPOB stated that Gumi was supposed to have been jailed for advocating for bandits if Nigeria were a sane country.
The group noted that it has not kidnapped innocent people, taken ransom or killed defenceless citizens.

The Nnamdi Kanu-led group stated this in a statement by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, which was made available to SaharaReporters on Sunday.

Controversial Islamic scholar, Gumi had said on Friday that designating bandits as terrorists by the Nigerian government cannot change anything.

Gumi had said, “If you can remember IPOB was also declared a terrorist organization, the declaration was even backed by the order of the Court but as you can see even the international community did not recognize the Federal Government’s declaration of IPOB. So it has failed to be effective or to achieve the desired results.”
 
In reaction, IPOB described the statement by Gumi as both sacrilegious and insane.

“This is not only sacrilegious but insanity taken too far.
 
“In case Gumi has forgotten, Fulani bandits and herdsmen are already designated the fourth deadliest terror organisation in the world. But IPOB as a peaceful Movement maintains its presence in over 100 countries of the world without any molestations.
 
“It’s only in Nigeria that Gumi and his likes will liken IPOB to a terror group that it is not. What blackmail!
 
“Gumi should hide his face in shame for his open support for mass murderers while on the other hand claiming to be an Islamic cleric.
 
“Were Nigeria to be a sane society, Gumi and his types should have been serving their jail terms for their unhidden sympathy for terrorists.

“But we assure him that definitely one day he and his likes will have to tell the world all they know about bandits and terrorists and how much that passed through them to the mass murderers as ransom.
 
“Can the mischievous Gumi be honest to tell the world if IPOB has kidnapped anybody at any time and demanded ransom for him to liken us with bandits? Can he swear by Allah that IPOB has carried out any terror attack against anybody at any time?
 
“IPOB remains a peaceful movement with the mandate of restoring the Sovereign State of Biafra. We believe in peaceful restoration of Biafra and our philosophy has not changed.
 
“Sheikh Gumi should tread with caution. The world is watching him for hobnobbing with bandits and terrorists.
 
“He should stop deceiving himself, the world already knows who he is working for, and whose interest he defends. Sheikh Gumi, tell us your friend, and we will tell you who you are! An advocate of bandits can’t claim to be a true Islamic cleric,” the statement partly read.

[Saharareporters]

Declaring Bandits As Terrorists Will Cause More Problems, Won’t Change Anything— Sheikh Gumi

Kaduna-based controversial Islamic scholar, Ahmad Gumi has said designating bandits as terrorists will result in more violence in the country. 

He also said it cannot solve the insecurity problems, adding that banditry is a part of socio-economic challenges confronting Nigeria. 

Gumi said bandits are herdsmen, and thus labelling them as terrorists is just a decision taken for political expediency. 

The Islamic teacher said all these in a statement issued by his Media Consultant and the Dan-Iyan Fika, Malam Tukur Mamu. 

He said, “I think the federal government has succumbed to media blackmail by a section of the country. It will not have any practical value because even before the declaration, they are being fought and treated as terrorists.”

He continued, “So it’s just a nomenclature which I believe will not change the dynamics on the ground.

“If you can remember IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) was also declared a terrorist organization, the declaration was even backed by the order of the Court but as you can see even the international community did not recognise FG’s declaration of IPOB. So it has failed to be effective or to achieve the desired results.

“They have not been banned from travelling to other countries while their citizenship remains intact, it has not been denounced. So what type of declaration is that? 

“I sincerely hope that Nigerians will not take the herdsmen as terrorists but should regard the criminality of the few among them against innocent people as acts of terrorism just as we see IPOB and their attacks on security agencies and other northern citizens as acts of terrorism. Very few herdsmen are bandits if you go through their population.

“I hope this declaration will not give the license to people to be profiling herdsmen in general as terrorists and taking the law into their hands against them. 

“It will cause more mayhem. The declaration will not change anything, it will not change the dynamics. Already the military is engaging them. It didn’t stop them from kidnappings and killings. The declaration will not end their aggression against the society.

“The Fulani banditry is a socio-economic problem. We have seen it, we interacted widely with them. We told the federal government the way out.

“It can only be won through engagement, dialogue and justice. That is why today there is relative peace in the Niger Delta because government has accepted the painful reality of rehabilitating and empowering them.

“There has to be equitable distribution of wealth in Nigeria and justice for everyone. People don’t want to accept it, before the issue of banditry that now affects all of us, the Fulanis have suffered so much.

”They have lost their legitimate means of livelihood, I mean their cows through cattle rustling and extortion by security agencies. That has to be addressed as a means of genuine reconciliation and integration. They should have a sense of belonging.”

[Saharareporters]

Nigerian Court Declares Bandits as Terrorists, Directs FG to Publish Proscription on Official Gazette, Dailies

Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has declared the activities of bandits in Nigeria as acts of terrorism.

In a landmark judgment on Thursday, the court said “Yan Bindiga group”, “Yan Ta’adda group” and others alike are active terrorists.

M. B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Federal Ministry of Justice, filed an ex-parte motion.

A supporting affidavit, filed by Aminu Kayode Alilu of the ministry, explained why the application was made.

The government told the court that bandits were responsible for several acts of criminality in different parts of the country.

The oath pointed out that Yan Bindiga, Yan Ta’adda and others were responsible for “wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria, particularly in the Northwest and North-central states”.

It mentioned, “kidnappings for ransom, kidnapping for marriage, mass abductions of school children and other citizens, cattle rustling, enslavement, imprisonment, severe deprivation of physical liberty, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy, other forms of sexual violence, attacks and killings”.

The government said the outlaws were carrying out “acts of terrorism that can lead to a breakdown of public order and safety and is a threat to national security and the corporate existence of Nigeria”.

In his pronouncement, Justice Taiwo proscribed Yan Bindiga, Yan Ta’adda and all bandit clusters “either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called”.

The judge directed the Federal Government to publish the proscription order in the official gazette and two national dailies.

[Daily Post]