Nigeria - Genocide in Kaduna

Nigerians are calling for international awareness regarding the current genocide in Southern Kaduna state of Nigeria. 

Kaduna state is located in Northern Nigeria and is characterised by ethno-religious violence, poverty, ethnic schisms and land issues. The inhabitants of Southern Kaduna are mostly farmers and Christians. 

The main contention is between the Fulani herdsmen and indigenous farmers. The people in the area most affected are farmers who are aggrieved by how the Fulani herdsmen walk their cows and cattle in their farmland and destroy their farms and all their hard work.  

Press releases from Clergy leaders suggest that over 800 people have been killed. 

It is also reported that the people are discontent by the way the issue is being handled/or not by the government.

Solomon Musa, an attorney and president of the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) highlighted the macabre of events in the community and stated that their communities have been neglected and abandoned by the government when they most needed them. It has been reported that the Fulani herdsmen are equipped with sophisticated weapons and carry out merciless carnage in these communities.

The clergy men stated that in an attack in the Godogodo and Pasakori areas, the military just watched as their homes were razed and burnt to the ground.

The issue in Southern Kaduna is a complex one and needs handling now before it escalates to other parts of the country. 

                                                        Picture from Social media

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Why????

I have not been blogging for a long time now. I have been overwhelmed by my research and have been so stressed. I am feeling much better now and I am glad to say that I am back to blogging. Have you heard of the recent killings in Nigeria? Well, it all started because of the election results. Some groups were unhappy, then  took to the streets and started killing their fellow human beings.The question on my mind is why? Why would anyone think that justice is carried out by killing innocent citizens who have nothing to do with the outcome of the elections. When I first heard of the killings, my heart skipped. As you know, I was born and bread in the North of Nigeria where these atrocities are taking place. My family and friends still live in the North. Immediately the news broke, friends started calling me to check if my mum was safe. I was calling all those I knew and the stories I heard were chilling. People were stopped randomly and killed. It turned into a religious and tribal conflict. There were bodies everywhere.The killings spread to other parts of the North with heart breaking stories of how innocent men, women and children were burnt, slaughtered and killed. Friends in the North updated their face book pages to tell of their own account. No food, no water, no electricity, no fuel and just a situation of desperation. I wept for my country. I can understand what they are going through. I witnessed the last Kaduna crisis and I must say it was not a child's play. The thought of death being so close, not knowing when you will be killed or how. The cries of people dying, the smoke of houses burning. I could all see and hear these first hand. No one had to tell me the stories because I lived it. It was one of the scariest things I ever witnessed.

The question "why" would never be answered. The anger many Nigerians feel for those who commit such crimes will never be felt by the perpetrators of these heinous crimes. The government of Nigeria has yet again failed its people. The people that they are supposed to be protecting. There is yet to be a serious condemnation for these atrocities from any government representatives or from those who lost the elections whom these people are killing for. What about justice? What about those who lost their loved ones? The feeling I get is that many Nigerians are not happy with all these unnecessary killings. How do people move on and live with one another after these atrocities? We need serious prayers as a country. Here are few pictures that were circulating on Facebook.

Hope for Nigeria

My sister and I were talking about how things are going in Nigeria and she said that when she went home in Kaduna, the trains were working and now taking passengers from one town to the other. I was just amazed to hear that. I was filled with so much excitement. It is not a big deal for those in developed countries but for those in developing countries like Nigeria were all the infrastructure has been let to rot, such is great news.

I believe change is incremental and it will surely happen for not only Nigerians but for all Africans. I also hope that our leaders will have the focus to drive that country towards development. Our children's children should see only a world equal to that of the developed nation.