Zangon Kataf attacks: We lost 500 villagers, farmlands – Paramount ruler

The paramount ruler of Atyap in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Dominic Gambo Yahaya, has called on the international community, organizations and individuals to rescue the Atyap people from the massive destruction they suffered from attacks leading to the loss of lives and properties.

The Atyapland suffered massive attacks of over 20 villages from 2020 to late 2023, leading to the loss of over 500 people, maiming of many others and destruction of properties, including farmlands, by suspected Fulani militias.

The paramount ruler, while launching the Jumma Gambo Yahaya Foundation on Thursday in his palace, Zangon Kataf, to cater for the moral upbringing and education of hundreds of orphans from nursery to university level following the aftermath of the various attacks, said, “As the father of the chiefdom, my aspiration is to ensure the moral and educational upbringing of the orphans irrespective of their religion or tribe but to ensure they become useful to themselves and society in the future.”

According to him, the various attacks that took place in the chiefdom from 2020 to 2023, brought untold hardship to the people following the massive killings, burning of houses, destruction of foodstuff, property and farmlands that rendered many people vulnerable presently.

He said, “Life is no longer the same in the chiefdom. The attacks affected the economy of the area, markets and the social wellbeing of the people and as rural dwellers, they are finding it extremely difficult to access their farmlands for fear of the unknown and with object poverty steering them in their faces, the education of their children and the orphans has become a serious challenge, hence, l have to take over and seek the assistance of people of like minds to rescue the situation.”

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He also called on the federal and state governments to urgently do something to rescue the situation the people in the chiefdom are going through.

The local government council chairman, Francis Sani, explained that the local government has initiated the payment of school fees of orphans left behind as a result of the attacks that took place in the local government, adding that bills of those attacked and receiving treatment are being paid by the local government.