Bandits kill 50, raze 254 houses, 7 churches in Kaduna

The paramount ruler of Atyap Chiefdom, Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State, Agwatyap Dominic Gambo Yahaya has cried out against incessant attacks by suspected herdsmen.

He said the militia/bandits have in the last few days killed no fewer than 50 villagers, destroyed 254 homes and 7 churches in the Atyap Chiefdom within two months.

The Agwatyap in a statement he personally issued, explained that the unrestrained violence unleashed on poor, defenceless, innocent farmers of Atyap land had reached a sorry state that no farmer can venture out to the farmland, as the chances of returning home alive were very slim.

The paramount ruler noted that he found the recurring attacks most distressful and disturbing, saying that the alleged killers were known to have lived among the communities, as they always called the victims out by their names, to notify them of their mission to kill before committing the dastardly acts on the helpless farmers.

He added, “I have kept faith with the peace efforts embarked on by all the communities in the chiefdom, aimed at enthroning sustainable peace in the land by consistently restraining the youth from taking the laws into their hands in any form of reactions or reprisal, else, the situation could have escalated beyond control.”

Yahaya lamented that the recurring killings had reached an extreme height of provocation almost beyond control.

The Agwatyap observed that the peace process had not yielded its desired result.

The Agwatyap lamented that on Saturday, 11th September, 2021, unknown gunmen attacked again killing Reverend Silas Ali within the vicinity of Zango Urban settlement in Atyap Chiefdom.

He further stated that, “The following day, Sunday 12th September, suspected herdsmen invaded the community of Apyiah Ajiim, few hundred metres from the spot of Saturday’s attack, killing 12 people, in another round of recurring attacks on the Atyap community. The victims included: six women (two heavily pregnant), three men and three children.”

According to the paramount ruler, “This occurred after the communities of Gora Gida, Wawa Rafi, Warkan, Manyie-Aywie, Ahtak- Kanai, Magata, Magauri, Matyei, Abuyab, Magamia, Makarau, Mayayit, Manchong, Ma’door and a host of other communities were serially attacked, where no fewer than 50 villagers were massacred, 254 homes and 7 churches burnt in an unrestrained violence unleashed on poor, defenceless, innocent farmers of Atyap land.”