UPDATE: Seven Killed, Houses, Bridge Destroyed in Three Southern Kaduna Communities

… Terrorists destroyed bridge linking communities to prevent security from coming to help, residents say

No fewer than seven people have been confirmed killed, many houses and a bridge destroyed across three communities in Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna state after terrorists launched s deadly attack on Wednesday morning.

The communities attacked are; Zaman Dabo, Chibob and Sabon Kaura.

A source who gave his name as Timothy told this newspaper that the attackers invaded the communities in their hundreds and operated simultaneously across the three communities.

“The attacked the three villages at the same time. They were more than hundred in number.

“They operated for over two hours, burning several houses in the process. We cannot ascertain the number of houses burnt at the moment because the destruction was massive.

“They killed one person in Zaman Dabo and killed six in Chibob and Sabon Kaura.

“They also took their time to destroyed the only bridge kinking the communities.” Timothy said.

This is not the first time terrorists attacking communities in the Middle Belt region are destroying pedestrian bridges. In August 2021, terrorists burnt down a pedestrian bridges after a deadly attack that left scores dead in Yelwan Zangam community in Jos, Plateau state. The military said the destroyed bridge prevented them from accessing the community on time during the attack.

This newspaper had reported on Wednesday morning of an attack in Zaman Dabo even though details of casualties and destruction wasn’t available as at that time.

The renewed attack in Southern Kaduna is causing panic as most residents are abandoning their communities for the IDP camps in Zonkwa, a youth leader told this newspaper on condition of anonymity.

“People are leaving their houses for the IDP camps in Zonkwa as we speak.

“The IDP camps are already overstretched at the moment but more people are trooping in for fear that their communities will be attacked soon.” He said.

Resident of Zangon Kataf also confirmed that the security forces on ground are inadequate to tackle the rising cases of attacks in communities in the local government.

BREAKING: Many Feared Killed By Terrorists in Fresh Southern Kaduna Attack

Scores of people are feared killed and many houses burnt after terrorists suspected to be herdsmen militia launched an early morning attack on Zaman Dabo community in Zaman Dabo Ward, Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna state on Wednesday, February 9.

A source who confirmed the attack on condition of anonymity told this newspaper that the attack started around 3:30am and lasted for over two hours.

Many houses are reported to have been destroyed by the attackers while many people are also alleged to have been killed during the attack.

As of the time of filing this report, the villagers are still gathering and searching for dead bodies, another source who gave his name as Monday told this reporter on telephone.

“We cannot tell the number of people killed or injured because it is too early.

“Search operation is still ongoing by members of the community.” He said.

Zangon Kataf local government and neighboring Kaura have been under repeated attack in the last one week.

Recall that on January 30, Kurmin Masara community in Zangon Kataf was attacked and no fewer than 16 people were killed by terrorists. Few days later, on February 3 eleven people were killed in communities around Kagoro in Kaura local government area.

Details later……

BREAKING: Kidnapped Kaduna Catholic priest regains freedom after 24 hours

Rev Fr Joseph Shekari, the priest in charge of St. Monica’s Catholic Church, Ikulu Fari Parish, in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has been released by his captors after 24 hours in captivity.

This newspaper had reported on Monday that terrorists invaded the residence of the priest around 11:30 pm on Sunday shooting sporadically, killing his personal cook before taking him away.

It was also learnt that the gunmen carted away N2 million realised from a thanksgiving service in the Parish.

The Paramount Chief of the Chawai Chiefdom, Alhaji Mohammed, confirmed the release of abducted priest to The PUNCH on Tuesday morning.

“We thank God immensely for answering our prayers and facilitating his return to us unhurt,” Mohammed said.

As of the time of filing this report, Middle Belt Times could not independently verify the condition in which the priest was released by his abductors.

Kidnapped Bethel Student Rejected Freedom, Ransom Bearer Abducted, Says CAN Chairman

The Chairman of the Christian Association in Kaduna State, Rev John Hayab, has raised the alarm over the abduction of one of its members sent to deliver the ransom for the release of the remaining kidnapped Bethel Baptist High School pupil by terrorists.

Hayab, who’s also the Vice Chairman of CAN in the northern states and Abuja, also disclosed that the remaining pupil, said to be the youngest of the abductees, rejected an offer of freedom from the terrorists.

According to the President, Baptist Conference, Rev Ishaya Jangado, 121 pupils were kidnapped by bandits in the early hours of July 5, 2021, at the school premises along the Kaduna-Kachia highway, Damishi, in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state

The bandits had released 120 of the pupils in batches.

However, the CAN chairman said that the teenager preferred to remain with the bandits, a development that puzzled the entire members of the Baptist family and indeed, CAN.

Hayab explained that the bandits were said to be showering the boy with gifts each time they went out and come back from operations, thereby, making him reject the offer of freedom.

The CAN leader, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH in Kaduna on Thursday, said, “Only one pupil of the Bethel Baptist High School is remaining with the terrorists. The reason is that this young boy – because we have to be clear with the story so that we don’t get misquoted – is the smallest among them.

“I think the kidnappers were smart. They worked and changed his mind that he even said he wants to stay with them. They (terrorists) gave him meat, good things. Anytime they go out and come back, they pick him among the rest and give him so many things and then he starts acting funny.
“If they (terrorists) tell him to go home, he would say he was not going and gave some flimsy excuses that his parents used to beat him at home. But we also made findings and we don’t want to expose his parents to any noise but that is what he (the pupil) said. We are confused too.”
“But I understand they (terrorists) are playing mind games with him by giving him gifts and convincing him to talk that way. But last week, they (terrorists) asked us to bring some money (ransom) to come and take him. The person who took the money to them was kidnapped. The person is with them as I speak now (on Thursday).
“So, it’s a very complicated situation that we are praying and managing with care. The man who has been helping us to deliver the money (ransom) all this while went to deliver the money to free this boy they were confusing and they kidnapped him. So, the whole thing is taking a different dimension and we need to be careful.”

BREAKING: Terrorists Abduct Catholic Priest, Kill Aide in Southern Kaduna

Terrorists in the late hours of Sunday attacked Ikulu Fari, a Catholic parish located in Chawai, Kauru local government area of Kaduna state, North West Nigeria.

Middle Belt Times gathered that the terrorists abducted Rev Fr Joseph Shekari the parish priest and killed a yet to be identified cook working in the Parish house during the Sunday night attack.

A source who spoke to MBT on condition of anonymity said the attackers shot sporadically when they arrived the parish house at about 11:30pm.

“They came in around 11:30pm on Sunday night and began shooting sporadically.

“They killed the cook to the parish priest and went away with the Priest.” He said.

Details later….

Six Killed in Southern Kaduna As Terrorists Open Fire on Commuters

There was pandemonium in Kagoro community in Kaura local government area of Kaduna state on Thursday when terrorrists suspected to be Fulani herdsmen militias opened fire on travelers, killing six and injuring others.

The ugly incident happened around the government secondary school Kagoro along the Kafanchan-Kagoro road, a witnessed told Elanza news.

The terrorists were said to have pretended to be fixing a bad vehicle along the road, only to open fire on the oncoming vehicle thereby killing six occupants.

Southern Kaduna has been witnessing sustained terror attack since Sunday when eleven people were killed in Atak-Mawei community in neighbouring Zangon Kataf local government area of the state

On Tuesday, some women were reported to have been raped and injured by terrorists in the Tsonje-Gidan Waya axis of the state.

Despite huge security votes expended by the Nasiru El-rufai led administration, Kaduna state has remained one of the most insecure states in the country. Several communities have been attacked leading to the death of thousands in the last seven years, raising questions as to how the funds are utilized.

Ninety Percent of Repentant Terrorists Are Truly Born Again – Zulum

Not less than 90 per cent of terrorist elements who repented from the life of crimes in Borno State have genuinely forsaken their past, Governor Babagana Zulum declared on Wednesday.

Zulum stated this while responding to questions from State House Correspondents after the inauguration of the Presidential Committee on the Repatriation, Return and Resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons by President Muhammadu Buhari.

His Kaduna counterpart, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, late 2021 argued that terrorists do not genuinely repent, advising they must be dealt with and eliminated.

However, Zulum whose State started receiving repentant elements from Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorist groups last year, said those that so far come out to surrender to the government have genuinely shown repentance.

According to him, most of the repentant terrorists are already giving the government the necessary support.

When asked if he was confident that the terrorists were truly repentant he said: “Hundred per cent confident. Yes. While no process is perfect in the entire world, so far, so good, the process has yielded positive results.

“I believe, over 90% of those that have surrendered, are doing well and have given the government the necessary support. They’re also calling their colleagues in the bush to come out and join the process of peacebuilding.”

On the inauguration of the committee to resettle the IDPs, he said: “Indeed, we are so much happy, especially those of us that are in the Northeast because thousands of people were displaced, some are taking refuge in the Republic of Chad, in the Republic of Niger, Cameroon.

“And this is the time that the Federal Government in collaboration with the State Governments of the North East, will facilitate the repatriation of the internally displaced persons that are living in our neighbouring countries to Nigeria.

“The committee is also to look into the management of the repentant Boko Haram members. So indeed, we are so grateful and the entire northeastern government will give maximum support to this committee.”

On if the refugees are ready to come back, he said: “They are over ready. They have been agitating for a return for the last two and a half years. But unfortunately, the enabling environment has not been created for that return.

“But now that the Federal Government has acted when all the necessary resources and materials needed to ensure their return in a dignified manner will be provided by the Federal Government and we remain extremely grateful.”

TG News

Baroness Cox, John Eibner Write to Luka Binniyat

…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 Report contributor, 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.”

Credit: Christian Solidarity International

Eleven confirmed killed, others injured in Southern Kaduna

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.

BREAKING: Scores Feared Killed As Suspected Terrorists Attack Southern Kaduna

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.

Details later…..