…Calls for the immediate release of Adara leaders
Abuja – The Adara Development Association (ADA), of Kaduna State on Monday said Governor Nasir el-Rufai, who was quick to reel out statistics to the media on alleged killings of Fulani in February 2019, has probably not seen that Karamai, Ungwan Barde, Dogon noma, Kymara and Ungwan Gora villages have all been attacked and burnt down to the ground.
The Association declared that it is clear and a fact that the Kaduna state government is engaged in a punitive exercise to simply humiliate, punish and ensure the destruction and annihilation of the Adara nation.
ADA then asked rhetorically; “When will he also speak for us? Aren’t we humans too, aren’t we also part of those he swore to protect? Why this unfair and partial treatment to us as a people? Why?”
The Association in a statement noted that in spite of six attacks on different Adara villages taking place after the arrests of their leaders and despite hundreds killed and thousands displaced, none of the killers has been arrested either by security agencies or the state government.
ADA noted that this is in spite of the fact that all the attacks took place for hours in daylight, adding that but Adara chiefs from different villages in Kajuru were invited and arrested.
A statement by the National Assistant Secretary, Barr Waziri Luka stressed that none from those attacking Adara communities has even been questioned or detained.
Luka said; “Today makes it almost 31 days that our leaders, elders and chiefs of the Adara nation were indiscriminately arrested in a blatant, injurious and a one-sided reckless abuse of state power never envisaged under a democratic government in Kaduna State.
“The blindfold on Lady Justice depicting impartiality and objectivity in the application of justice has been removed – on the Adara people.”
ADA further said that the unfortunate crisis that erupted in Kajuru Local Government Area provided an opportunity for statesmanlike conduct to flourish from the consciousness of those with the responsibility of dispensing not just justice but good governance.
According to him; “But what we got instead was an aberration. Our leaders were arrested, locked up in police cells and later transferred to the Kaduna Prison under bogus and ludicrous charges.
“A government that is anchored on the principle of economic, social and environmental justice, that glories on the noble pursuit of strengthening the institutions of justice is missing in the Adara crisis. Justice has been rubbished in pursuit of a sponsored hegemonic enthronement.
“The result: the one-sided perception of justice simply got pronounced in its odoriferous fetidness.”
The ADA listed Adara leaders currently in detention in prison to include;
- Engr, Bawa Magaji, Wazirin Adara, acting Agom Adara, arrested on 16th February. (Locked up now for 30 days)
- Retired Commissioner of Police, Mr Sani Magaji, the Baradan Adara, arrested on 19th February (27 days today)
- Awemi Dio Maisamari, National President of the Adara Development Association, arrested on 16th February. (30 days)
These others were all arrested between 12 and 15th February (between 30 and 33 days)
- Mr Joseph Abdullahi, National Treasurer, ADA
- Mr Tanko Maisamari, village head of Maro
- Mr Hosea Danladi, Village head Ungwan Gamo
- Mr Josepj Ayuba, Village Head of Kutura
- Mr Tanko Wada, Village head of Ayuba
- Mr Ulu Maitumbi, elder Ungwan Barde village
The ADA quoted Montesquieu saying; “There is no crueler tyranny than that which is perpetuated under the shield of law and in the name of justice,”
Luka said: “And that is exactly what is happening in Kaduna state. The unfortunate aspect is that political and religious considerations have made so many to even turn their backs on the carnage taking place in our villages.
“Apart from coping with our leaders in prison, we are also digging mass graves to bury our dead, running up and down to provide for the thousands of our displaced ones and tending to those in hospitals.
“In all these, the state government is not bothered but bent on appeasing the killers while they kill us.
“We insist that our leaders are innocent and should be released. It should be noted that peace cannot thrive where there is injustice. It is even worse when those in authority openly display a corrosive bias in favour of those they consider as theirs.”
ADA called for urgent steps to be taken to address the challenges facing the over 3,000 displaced people whose homes and everything they laboured for were destroyed while many others who sustained injuries from gunshots and machete cuts are left in different hospitals across the state.
Leave a comment