The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on the Federal Government as well as the security forces to put an end to incessant attacks resulting into wanton destruction of lives and properties and kidnapping of defenseless civilians for ransom in some parts of Kaduna, Benue and Delta states.

The rights group expressed shock and consternation as to why communities in virtually the entire federation still come under armed terrorist attacks despite a statewide lockdown imposed to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

“The ease with which terrorists, armed marauders, armed Fulani herdsmen operate in Southern Kaduna and parts of Delta State and the devastation they unleashed in those communities without ever being caught by the security forces goes to show that there are fifth columnists embedded within the Nigerian security forces or government that provide logistics, funding support and protection to these elements who have left dozens of innocent citizens maimed and killed and several communities burnt.

“Some communities have also been sent on fire in Benue State by suspected armed Fulani herdsmen and, unfortunately, the Governor who is the Chief Security Officer of the state lacks the capacity to stop the killings but has asked the citizens to begin a week-long fasting,” HURIWA said Friday in a media statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf.

The rights group said it is “disturbing and disheartening” to note that at a time when the masses are passing through difficulties due to the COVID-19 lockdown, armed terrorists continue to attack them in their houses with little or no resistance from the security forces statutorily empowered and funded to protect the citizens.

The rights group said it is unexplainable how the terrorists have access to communities with ease carrying assault rifles while law-abiding citizens are forced to stay at home.

HURIWA said that it is aware of a thoroughly documented information from dependable sources regarding how some communities have been attacked, lives lost and properties destroyed in the past one week in Kaduna State, adding that the incessant killing of Christians have demonstrated an “unambiguous evidence of coordinated genocides” which the rights group wants the international community to step up measures to compel the Nigerian state to halt.

The group said according to a report signed by the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) on Sunday, April 19, 2020, armed terrorists attacked Ungwan Magaji village in Chawai ward Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna state killing four adults, razing down over 30 houses and displacing more than 300 persons.

On Saturday April 18, 2020, armed terrorists had attacked Gbagyi villa community under Chikun LGA in Kaduna metropolis and kidnapped a couple a young man simply identified as Steven who is a student of Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State.

And on Thursday April 23, 2020, armed terrorists attacked two communities: Aknunako and Kabarasha in Chikun LGA and two villagers alongside a soldier, were killed in the attack while others sustained various degrees of injuries. At about 8pm the same day, Damba Kosaya village in Chikun LGA came yet another attack in which five villagers were killed, and some yet to be identified villagers kidnapped by the assailants while houses, vehicles, food stores and other valuables were burnt down by the terrorists.

In a separate attack in neighboring Kajuru LGA, Kujeni community was attacked by armed terrorists on the same April 23, 2020. Dozens of houses were razed by the terrorists while one person was killed and two youths shot and are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

HURIWA is of the opinion that these attacks are way too many to be ignored by the government considering the fact that her primary constitutional responsibility is the protection of lives and properties of the citizens as spelt out in the Nigerian constitution.

“We call on the Governors of Kaduna, Benue and Delta states to rise to the occasion and stop the killings of their citizens. In the case of Kaduna, it is becoming suspicious that there are persons with connections to either the government or security forces that are sponsoring the killings because these systematic and systemic attacks have gone on for long and not a single of these killers have been arrested and brought to face the full weight of the law. What is playing out in Kaduna has the semblance and substance of a planned and well executed genocide.

“In Delta State, we are shocked that armed Fulani herdsmen are permitted to continue to unleash bloody violence and the Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, behaves as if those of his fellow citizens being killed are mere chickens. This is absolutely condemnable.”

The rights group also charged the security agencies in the states to increase vigilance and intelligence gathering on areas prone to these attacks to forestall future occurrences.

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