The Council of Imams and Ulama in Kaduna State has called on the federal government to respond swiftly to the arrest and prosecution of those who “further encouraged the degeneration of the Southern Kaduna crisis” namely, the Christian religious and political leaders who have spoken up against the crimes against humanity perpetrated in the Christian dominated area.
Speaking on Monday, January 9, 2017 the council through its chairman, Sheik Abubakar Babantune and Secretary, Aminu Ibrahim made its decision known at a press conference held in Kaduna.
“The council is in support of the federal and Kaduna State governments in taking any measure legally, to deal with any individual or group of persons, found promoting further disturbances in the area,” the Muslim clerics said.
The chairman of the council at the press conference urged the federal government to arrest “those who through their inflammatory religious comments” caused the “merciless massacre of hundreds of Hausa/Fulani Muslims in the area” of Southern Kaduna.
The council particularly urged the government to arrest and prosecute Sen. Danjuma La’ah, the senator representing the area, and Sunday Marshal-Katung, a member of the House of Representatives.
Further adding to the list, the council named the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Samson Ayokunle, Rev. Zacahriah Gado of 19 DCC Fellowship, CAN secretary general, Musa Asake, John Danfulani, a human rights activist, and Solomon Musa, the SOKAPU President for their alleged roles in encouraging killings in the area.
The council, citing several newspaper publications, accused them of whipping up sentiments through falsehood and encouraging residents to take up arms against each other.
They blamed the government for failing to punish perpetrators of past crises in the area, who were indicted but allowed to go scot-free.
The council cited such people to include Zamani Lekwot and five others, who were found guilty and sentenced to death by Justice Okigbo tribunal over the Zangon Kataf crises.
“The white paper of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Kaduna State Religious Disturbances of 2001 recommended for further investigation and reprimand of Elder Saídu Dogo, Archbishop P. Y. Jatau, Archbishop B.A. Achigili.
“The white paper on the report of the Federal Government Investigation Panel on the 2011 Election Violence and Civil Disturbances recommended among others for the police to investigate a history teacher that slaughtered the father of his student in her presence.”
The Southern Kaduna killings have been carried out by the Islamist terrorist group, the Fulani herdsmen militia, in the Christian dominated areas of the northern state. The victims are Christian and there is no record of reprisal killings against Muslims.
Christian leaders – political and religious – have consistently accused the Kaduna State government led by Nasir El Rufai, and the federal government led by Muhammadu Buhari – both Fulanis and Muslims – of complicity in the killings which have gone on even when a 24-hour curfew was declared during the Christmas period.
