SOUTHERN KADUNA KILLINGS: A RECURRING DECIMAL.
On the 19th of October, 2018, Dr. Maiwada Raphael Maiwada, a traditional ruler in the predominantly Christian community of Kachia, Kaduna state, in the Northern region of Nigeria was kidnapped. Four of his security aides were shot dead and sadly, one week later his body was found lying lifeless in a bush.
This is one of the unfortunate outcomes of the recurrence of an over three decade old ethno-religious clash in Southern Kaduna. Last week’s relay was the twelfth of such anomalous rage filled blood letting in recent times. Reports have it that over 55 innocent Nigerians were brutally tortured and killed with properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
Such attacks leave a big question on the effectiveness of Nigeria’s security structure, the proactive measures of the federal government, the affected state government and the value it places on the lives of its citizens at moments such as this. The recurrent attacks in Kachia and other closely knit neighborhoods have roots that point to a strategic attempt to cower, annihilate and depopulate the peace loving Christian community that predominantly occupy the area and have thus become a ‘black sheep’ amongst other surrounding Islamic communities.
Justice can only be served when an independent investigation is set up and the perpetrators of this dastardly act are made to face the full wrath of the law for such display of bigotry and extremism as manifested in the religiously motivated killings. Till then, the Nigerian media has the duty to be the eyes and ears of her people all over the world and to report without bias the reality on ground in these fragile regions.
It is high time such killings attracted immediate actions not just mere speeches of “condemnations and sympathies” from both local and international communities. The Christian Association of Nigeria must step up to her responsibility. The United Nations, European Union, International Human Rights Protection agencies must turn their attention to Nigeria to pan out effort to end this menace as soon as possible.
