Kaduna killings: Kaninkon villagers’ self-efforts raise N5m for victims.

. . . . . flays 25 days detention of their royal father against court injunction.

KADUNA – Three weeks after suspected Fulani militia attacked Misisi four villages in Kaninkon  Chiefdom, Jema’a Local Government Area, LGA, of Kaduna state, killing 14 and burning many homes,  natives of the affected areas yesterday raised N5 million and  assorted relive materials and distributed to victims.

The funds and materials were generated through the effort of Kaninkon Elders’Forum, most who are based outside.

The affected communities are Passakori, Mile One, Ungwan Misisi and Tudun Wada, where an estimated 5,000 have been displaced all within the vicinity of Dangoma village . It could be recalled that Dangoma village, inhabited by Kaninkon natives, made global headlines last August, after an Australian newspaper published a rare discovery of  potentially large deposit of  nickel of the finest grade.

The communities’ leader also decried the continued detention of their royal father, Mr. Moses Barde, District Head of Goska, in Kaduna Prisons over the violence, in which his subjects were the victims,  despite bail granted him by a High Court, saying no Fulani leader – the prime suspect – was questioned by the police.

The distribution of the funds and relive materials which took place at the Goska Public Primary School, Goska, near Kafanchan, in Jema’a LGA, had in attendance, the  Interim Management Chairman of Jema’a LGA, Dr Humble Katuka and a large number of natives from Kaninkon District.

At the occasion, Katuka tongue-lashed the soldiers and police deployed to the various communities attacked by suspected Fulani insurgents in the LG for the poor management of the situation.

He also doubted the neutrality of the commanders of the soldiers and police deployed to secure the areas.

“They have failed in securing us and they have failed to uphold the oath they took when joining their various organisations,” he told the solemn crowd who agreed with him from their loud murmurings.

Speaking at the occasion, the National Chairman, Kaninkon Development Association, Mr. Waje Goska William, decried the continued detention of the District Head of Goska, Mr Moses Barde, saying it was against the law.

He said: “After the attacks occurred in our four communities, five more people were attacked and killed in their farms. And Government on their own side have shown that all people are not equal before the law.

“This is evident in the sense that, after the attack in Misisi, our traditional leaders were arrested and no Fulani Ardo was arrested even when the attack was against our people and it took place in our community.

 “Imagine a community that have being ravaged by suspected Fulani herdsmen but, the traditional leader is currently reminded on false allegation of kidnapping of 2 Policemen, conspiracy and terrorism.”

“This is injustice against a people and we equally view the arrest of our leaders and their illegal detention in Kaduna Central Prison as an agenda when put into consideration that Barde was held for 21 days and the Police in Kaduna refused to accept the bail application brought forward by his legal counsel

“Again, after the High Court 3 kaduna granted our royal father bail, the Police disrespected the bail Order and charged him to court 5 Barnawa, Kaduna and that court remanded him. Yesterday he has spent 25 days in Police custody,” he said.