Senator Uba Sani
By Lola Seriki-Idahosa
Tracereporters –Kaduna –A group, Zango Urban Community Development Association (ZUCODA), has condemned the recent attack on a community in Southern Kaduna and called on the authorities to investigate the root causes.
The group, in a statement signed by Ibrahim Bisallah, Acting Chairman of the ZUCODA Board of Trustees, stated that their attention was drawn to a story where an informant was quoted to have profiled an ethnic group as the perpetrators of the attack.
According to the statement, “First, we use this medium to condemn any such attack and pray for the repose of all those killed and wish a quick recovery of all those who sustained injuries. The informant said that the security forces arrived the community and this scared away the assailants”
The group said the report was not different from previous reports of allegations by some natives in the community on many past attacks on their villages and settlements, particularly hamlets and settlement neighbouring Zango Urban town; where at every opportunity the blame was heaped on the Zango Urban community.
They stated that since the informant had given conclusive evidence of the identity of the attackers, “we hold him responsible as suspect number one. This is because the attack and killing of the District Head of Gidan Zaki, and the unfolding events surrounding the investigation of his attackers are still very fresh in our memories.”
ZUCODA therefore,urged government and security agencies to investigate the issue by inviting the Acting Secretary of the District Head who would be a principal to their investigation.
“It would also be fair for us to make some records clear and straight that:
Takanai, where the attack took place, is not the immediate neighbourhood to Zango as there are other Atyap villages and settlements between it and Zango Urban District.”
“In many of the settlements between Takanai village and Zango Urban town, there are security formations guarding the villages and those settlements, including the local Atyap vigilante groups, day in day out.”
“Takanai is also situated in a place that could serve as a gateway to many other areas such as: Gora, Kamuru Chiefdom up to Ladduga to the west; Sabon Kaura across the river to Kumana Chiefdom in Kauru LGA to the North; just to mention but a few.”
The group lauded the work of security agents in trying to keep the communities safe, adding that any time a member of their community was killed, the corpse would be brought for burial in Zango Urban town.
“This is always done not because the deceased resided in Zango Urban, rather It is because the corpses are brought for proper funeral according to Islamic rites since Zango Urban was closest and the only settlement of the Muslims in the Atyap Chiefdom,” the group stated.
The group explained that Zango Urban town was also not spared of these threats and unwanted isolated killings., because every time there was an attack, a reprisal or revenge attack was launched on any settlement/village in the area, it would be alleged to have been carried out from Zango Urban despite repeated security reports from government and security agencies to the contrary.
“On this note, we urge the government and the security agencies to deal with the situation by investigating the allegation and bringing out the truth and the perpetrators to face the wrath of the law, while we stand steadfast in supporting it to ensure a lasting peace and security in the general area,” the statement added.
Below is the full text of the Press Statement

A PRESS STATEMENT TO A REPORT ON AN ATTACK AT TAKANAI IN THE PUNCH NEWSPAPER AND OTHER NATIONAL DAILIES, BY ZUCODA 27th September, 2023RE: SIX PERSONS KILLED IN FRESH SOUTHERN KADUNA ATTACK

Our attention has been drawn to a story in the Punch (online) Newspaper report of September 27, 2023 (https://punchng.com/just-in-six-persons-killed-in-fresh-southern-kaduna-attack/) with the above caption, in which the reporter, Israel Bulus, reported that a certain Samson Bitrus described as an acting Secretary to the District Head of the Community as his source of information.
He quoted the said informant saying that “We were going about our normal businesses when we heard gunshots, we thought it was the military at first until we saw it was the Fulanis who came in from Zango Urban,” Markus alleged”.
First, we use this medium to condemn any such attack and pray for the repose of all those killed and wish a quick recovery of all those who sustained injuries. The informant said that the security forces arrived the community and this scared away the assailantsWe are constrained to make this response to the report as it (The report) is no different from previous reports of allegations by some members of the Atyap community on many past attacks on their villages and settlements, particularly hamlets and settlement neighbouring Zango Urban town; where at every opportunity the blame is heaped on the Zango Urban community just like in this case. Now that this so-called Samson Markus has given conclusive evidence of the identity of the attackers, we hold him responsible as suspect number one.

This is because the attack and killing of his District Head, that’s the District Head of Gidan Zaki, and the unfolding events surrounding the investigation of his attackers are still very fresh in our memories.With this, we would not be quick in debunking or accepting the allegation but passionately urge government and security agencies to investigate the issue by inviting the “Ag Secretary of the District Head of the Community, Samson Markus, who would be a principal to their investigation.It would also be fair for us to make some records clear and straight that:Takanai, where the attack took place, is not the immediate neighbourhood to Zango as there are other Atyap villages and settlements between it and Zango Urban District.In many of the settlements between Takanai village and Zango Urban town, there are security formations guarding the villages and those settlements, including the local Atyap vigilante groups (day in day out).Markus should tell the authorities about the 3 Fulanis who were killed in the same community last week and another one just a day before this attack and the identity of the ethnic group of their killers.Takanai is also situated in a place that could serve as gateway to many other areas such as: Gora, Kamuru Chiefdom up to Ladduga to the west; Sabon Kaura across the river to Kumana Chiefdom in Kauru LGA to the North; just to mention but a few.While we salute the work of security agents in trying to keep the communities safe, we want to make it clear that any time the Atyap killed Fulani herders in Atyap neighbourhood, the security operatives would bring their corpses for burial in Zango Urban town.
 This is always done by the security agencies, not because the deceased reside in Zango Urban, rather It is because the corpses are brought for proper funeral according to Islamic rites, since Zango Urban is closest and the only settlement of the Muslims in the Atyap Chiefdom.
One wonders what these unfounded lies and falsehood allegation by Atyap member entail to achieve. Zango Urban town has its own share of the Fulani grazing route issues therein. It is also not left out in these threats and unwanted isolated killings.
 But every time there is an attack, a reprisal or revenge attack is launched on any Atyap settlement/village it would be alleged to have been carried out from Zango Urban even despite repeated security reports from government and security agencies to the contrary.
This allegation by Samson Markus and the recent misguided utterances about the 1992 Zangon Kataf Crisis by Gen Zamani Lekwot, Rtd., is further giving us a pointer to the likely plan or action of the Atyap about Zango Urban town; we suspect “danger” which ought to be investigated and thoroughly followed.
 Such has always been the ploy and a way to justify dastardly action on Zango Urban Community.On this note, we urge the government and the security agencies to deal with the situation by investigating the allegation and bringing out the truth and the perpetrators to face the wrath of the law, while we stand steadfast in supporting it to ensure a lasting peace and security in the general area.Thank you.For & On behalf of Zango Urban Community Development Association (ZUCODA)IBRAHIM BISALLAHAG. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Leave a Reply