The Adara Development Association, ADA, in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State has cried out of continued attacks, kidnapping and occupation of its displaced communities by suspected Fulani militias.
The Adara people said that villages like Doka, Afogo, Kallah, Gefe and Libere’ all bordering Ladugga grazing reserve have been witnessing attacks and kidnappings of its people.
A statement issued by the ADA President, Awemi Dio Maisamari and made available to DAILY POST noted that their farmers are routinely attacked and killed when they go to their farms.
“In the latest incidents on 2nd and 5th of July, 2020, two women at Doka were seriously wounded and one man named Yohanna Mutane was killed at Maraban Kajuru respectively,” the statement explained.
The Adara people then appealed to the Federal and Kaduna State governments to take necessary steps to restore law, order and genuine peace in Adara land.
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“We are also appealing for oversight by the public and international communities to protect human dignity, minority rights, justice and equity,” the statement added.
The Adara people lamented the decision of the Governor to go ahead and implement the unjust gazette, scrapping Adara Chiefdom which is being challenged in court by Adara community.
The people further lamented, “We are also shocked to hear that in spite of all the atrocities, horrors and agonies that our community has been going through, the Governor is still accusing Adara people of hostility towards Hausa/Fulani residents in Adara land. But most startling of all is the Governor’s assertion that the Hausa/Fulani settlement of Kajuru is older than Adara community, thereby alluding that they have more rights over the land than Adara nation.
“We think such wrong perception may be the reason why our community is being treated unfairly and disrespectfully in their only homeland on earth. Our position is that purported first settlers (Hausa/Fulani Muslims of Kajuru) in a large and purportedly empty region like Adara land will not take possession of only less than 1% of the area and leave the rest for later arrivals. Therefore, such falsehood is not logical in its entirety.”
The Adara people alleged that the Governor’s peace move is most inadequate because it involves only handpicked participants in Adara community. “We fear and wish to alert the public that this may be a ploy to extract unjustifiable concessions from some members of our community to legitimize subsequent unpopular government actions,” the statement explained.
The Adara people, therefore, called for the restoration of Adara Chiefdom as being prayed for in a suit pending before a court of competent jurisdiction, alleging that they were informed by participants in the discussions that there was no objection to the demand during committee deliberations.
“Any proper and binding engagement with our community on our grievances should, among others include recognized representatives chosen by Adara community in the process of reaching the agreements. The Association will disassociate itself from any group of people, report, decision or action that is not consistent with these two minimum conditions,” the Adara people advised.
DAILY POST