Zongo Kataf Crisis: Atyap Community Development Association To Seek Legal Means

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ZAINAB TANIMU
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Zongo Kataf Crisis: Atyap Community Development Association To Seek Legal Means

Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna Northwest Nigeria
The Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA) has threatened to seek legal means over what it described as onslaught on Atyap land by agents of darkness.
The lingering crisis in Zango Kataf  Local Government Area of Kaduna state between the people of Atyap Community and Hausa- Fulani pastorists has left several people dead and property loss.  Atyap Community is determined to use available legal means to seek redress.
This was disclosed to newsmen during a press conference held at the Nigeria Union Of Journalists Secretariat Kaduna, over the weekend.
The spokesperson of the group, the National President Atyap.Comr. Samuel  Achie who read the statement on behalf of the group said such  step will be taken as a last resort when everything fails. The constitution of Nigeria he said empowers to defend him/herself when the need arises. “For now we are still talking.I want to assure you that we are talking and we will still continue to talk until we get Peace back to our land.”
“We are compelled at this stage to make this statement in order to bring the
attention of the world and Nigeria in particular on the attacks and the
assuming genocide on the land for those following the development to
know.
“The attacks spanned across the Atyap dominated districts in the Chiefdom,
as if it was a deliberate act. These attacks are not mere herders or Banditry,
but premeditated attempt to wipe out the Atyap race.
“These whole things look like the Fulani Militia wants to grab and occupy our land. The Atyap people are law abiding citizens that have been
loyal to all successive governments to date and wonder why we should be
left alone to carry our cross now. Based on these, we ask that government
provide more troops, humanitarian relief materials and a peaceful
atmosphere for all, else we will be left with no other option than to protect
ourselves using all legal means.
In response to the question whether the two parties, the  Hausa Fulani, and the Atyab are at war? The response is No. But that they have to fight for their constitutional rights.
According to the statement, several efforts have been made to reach a seize fire only for the crisis to be rekindled claiming many lives and properties.
“We have made efforts to be at peace with all the people in the chiefdom thus the importance of this briefing.
 “Since last year, we have made frantic efforts to meet and discuss with the
Hausa and the Fulani community to reach a compromise on how to iive in
peace with each other and are still on that course. We have always toured
the path of peace not that we are cowards, but because it is what our
parents bequeathed to us, by and large our religion taught us so. In
spite of that, we will not fold our hands to be annihilated and our lands
taken over.
Still on reconciliation, the statement revealed that before now, some level of understanding was reach between the waring parties. The association therefore called for a united force to defeat all agents of disunity.
“This dastardly act of unimaginable magnitude of cowardice assault
perpetrated by agents of darkness who are bent on destroying already,
established pathway to sustainable peaceful coexistence between all
category of persons and tribes resident in Atyap Land as being championed by the paramount ruler of Atyap Land the Agwa  Atyap Sir.Dominic Yahaya must be stopped by all well-meaning citizens.
“It is a well known fact world over that all crisis are not won at the battle field, but at round table through discussion that could lead to amiable resolution of the crisis with the parties determined to bring an end to it.
“In all the attacks in the 12 different villages as at 15 July 2021, a
total of 42 people were killed and 338 houses burnt with 7 people
wounded. Several other valuables were not left out as 8 Cars, 13
motorcycles, generators, food and domestic items were either looted or
consumed by fire.”
Places of worship were also affected as 7 churches were said to have been
razed down by fire in various locations.
“Among the Houses razed down by the activities of these Fulani Militia are
the family compound of our paramount Ruler, His Royal Highness Sir
Dominic Yahaya in Magamiya and also the Family Compound of Retired
Major General Shekari Biliyock in Abuyab a former commandant of the
Nigeria-African Peace Keeping Arm, the ECOMOG. The statement revealed.
The group is calling on government to do the needful as they can no longer go to farm for fear of being killed.  Their children it lamented are no longer safe which has led to shutting down of schools in the communities.
“The absolute silence of the government on all these happenings in Atyap
Land makes us to begin to wonder whether the Atyap people are still
citizens of the state because we are yet to see any proactive step by the
government to end these killings in our soil, neither has there being any
comforting statement in reference to our situation.
For this reason, we therefore call on the government of Kaduna state to
without fear or favour come alive to it’s responsibility to put an end tó the
dastard and condemnable killings of its citizens. The government should
ensure that the perpetrators are fished out and brought to face the wrath of
the law. We say enough is enough. The statement added.
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