The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) had called on Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to redirect his political will to provide security and welfare for Kaduna citizens.
The call is sequel to a recently leaked memo of the governor to President Muhammadu Buhari on the security challenges bedeviling the state, stressing that terrorists were forming a parallel government in the state.
According to SOKAPU in a statement issued and signed by its acting national president Awemi Dio Maisamari, the confession of the governor is a confirmation of the various alarms that the union had been raising since 2019.
SOKAPU said beside atrocities committed during attacks, other unspeakable crimes and acts of barbarism were daily perpetrated in occupied communities which are better imagined than experienced.
“If only the terrorists had limited themselves to strictly enforcing their own brand of civil and criminal laws, that would have been a bit bearable. But we now have a situation whereby most rural communities are daily patrolled by well-armed marauding terrorists to stamp and enforce their authority and embark on widespread abductions, forced labour, systematic extortion, outright enslavement, widespread sexual harassment, confiscation of food, other valuables, dehumanisation, merciless brutality, torture, killing of innocent locals who show any sign of lack of cooperation or resistance to the occupiers.
“Consequently, most affected rural communities are deserted. That is the lot of rural villages in Kaduna State especially in Chikun, Kajuru, Kachia, Zangon Kataf, Kauru, Lere, Birnin Gwari and Giwa Local Governments. The area that has now become ungovernable space in Kaduna State is about the size of Abia State.
“With the benefit of other recent revelations or admissions made on how we have found ourselves where we are, we very much understand why el-Rufai is now crying foul. While using insecurity to grab and consolidate his power and authority, he rationalised it, defended and appeased the terrorists.”
