From Femi Mustapha, in Kaduna
The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) under the leadership of Engr. Tabara Samuel Kato has condemned the gruesome killing of Chief Emmanuel Dangaladima (Agom ana of Gefe) community, and Mr. Eze Paska, an Igbo businessman who settled in the village for his livelihood doing business.
SOKAPU also expressed solidarity with the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani for his commitment to work hand in hand with various ethnic/Socio-cultural groups and the youth of the state to promote peace, unity and harmony among all citizens in the state.
This is according to a statement by Josiah Yusuf Abraks, the Public Relations Officer of SOKAPU on Sunday.
According to the statement;” SOKAPU leadership is thankful to the Governor for his proactive approach and steps to avert further killings of innocent lives and destruction of property experienced during the protests within the state, which necessitated imposition of 24-hour curfew.”
SOKAPU encouraged Governor Uba Sani’s administration and the state’s security agencies not to relent in their efforts to ensure that Kaduna state remains peaceful so that people can go about their normal daily life without the fear of harassment, molestation, and intimidations that often characterized protests.
“The government’s timely review of the curfew’s restrictions is quite humane and appreciable as it gave some measures of relief to all and sundry in the state.
However, the security agencies are encouraged to redouble their efforts and remain vigilant to ensure that law and order are being maintained at all times in the state,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, SOKAPU has condemned the gruesome killing of Chief Emmanuel Dangaladima ( Agom ana of Gefe) community and Mr. Eze Paska an Igbo businessman who settled in the village for his livelihood doing business in the area.
“The attack took place yesterday morning by unknown gunmen at Gefe village in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State. Gefe community amongst other communities in Kajuru Local Government Area suffered a series of attacks by unknown gunmen.”
“We appeal to the authorities to make concerted efforts that could lead to the speedy release of 15 persons abducted in the attack. Those kidnapped are as follows:
(1) Happy Bitrus (2) Fenedic Bitrus (3) Regina Arewa (4) Mary Joshua (5) Joy Joshua (6) Miller Ezra (7)Mattis Stephen (8) Oliver Stephen (9) Monday Iliya (10) Florence Oliver (11) Blessing Maidoki (12) Mrs ezeh paska (13) Beatrice Saleh (14) Bihari Mallam (15) Ado Onomai.”
“In another report, the Barga community in Awon ward of Kachia Local Government Area was also attacked where the village head (Agom of Barga) was kidnapped alongside others while houses and properties were destroyed. These attacks appear to be efforts from some quarters to distract His Excellency, Senator Uba Sani from focussing on other germane issues of governance, to erode the general progress of the state, and the steady gains the Federal and State governments have been making in the area of security across Nigeria and Kaduna State thus far.”
“This underscores the need for both the Federal and Kaduna State governments to look beyond these attackers to root out the source of the problem with finality.
SOKAPU deeply sympathizes with the traumatized families of the victims and general members of the communities, and pray for successes in the efforts to secure the release of those kidnapped,” the statement added.
