The Middle Belt Forum is urging the international community to intervene to stop the massacre of Adara natives in Kajuru and Kachia local government area in Kaduna State, Nigeria, by Fulani militias

By Emeka Ejere

The Middle Belt Forum, MBF, has called on the international community to stop the spate of genocide against Adara natives in Kajuru and Kachia Local Government Areas of Kaduna State by suspected Fulani militias.

The forum, particularly, pleaded with United Nations, UN; European Union, EU; United States of America, USA, and British Parliament to mount pressure on Nasir el-Rufai, Kaduna State governor, and other relevant authorities in Nigeria to stop the massacre of innocent people.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, on Tuesday, April 2, Bitrus Pogu, national president of MBF said: “We wish to inform the world that there is an ongoing genocide across the Middle Belt region by armed Fulani herdsmen as presently ongoing in Adara communities, Southern Kaduna, which has been grossly under-reported by local media.

“This probably explains why the massacres have not caught the attention of international media. We call on the international community to mount pressure on Governor el-Rufai and other relevant authorities in Nigeria, to stop these killings of innocent men, women and children by deploying adequate security personnel to ensure quick restoration of peace to these besieged communities.”

Pogu blamed the conversion of chiefdoms to emirates by the Kaduna State government and the alleged move by Fulani to take over land belonging to Southern Kaduna people for the killings in the state.

According to him, the renaming of the chiefdoms was meant to impose Fulani as emirs on the people of Southern Kaduna by the state government.

He recalled that the move was opposed by Maiwada Galadima, the former Adara monarch, who was subsequently abducted and killed by unknown assailants.

Pogu said, “It is obvious that el-Rufai incited the current violence when he recklessly alleged that Fulani had been killed by Adara natives without any shred of evidence or proof.

“With the ongoing genocide, so far hundreds of Adara people have been killed, with women and children being the major victims.”

The MBF also accused the state government of instigating the arrest of the leaders of victim communities instead of going after those who destroyed towns and villages, including Ungwar Barde, Karmai, Maro and Dogon Noma.

“Since the police in November 2018, paraded some suspects behind the killing of the paramount ruler, not a word has been heard on the matter.

“We demand the immediate and unconditional release of nine Adara leaders, who are presently being detained in prison over unsubstantiated allegations of conspiracy and homicide,” he said.

– Apr. 3, 2019 @ 05:10 GMT |