Indigenes of Southern Kaduna living in Europe have protested against the killings in southern Kaduna, their home town, asking the international community to influence President Buhari to stop what they described as ‘genocide,’ and ‘state-sponsored’ killings of Christians by Fulani herdsmen.
The protesters also urged the federal government to declare Fulani herdsmen a terrorist organisation.
The Southern Kaduna People in Diaspora (SOKAPDA) Europe numbering about 25, converged at the country’s most famous landmarks, Trafalgar Square, at the early hours of Thursday, August 20th, matching to the Nigerian High Commission in nearby Northumberland Avenue, with the cheerleaders chanting “what do we want?” as others responded saying “justice.”
The protest then went into full swing at the Embassy, where they chanted “southern Kaduna can’t breathe”, “ Southern Kaduna lives matter”, “Stop the killings and “stop the genocide.” As the numbers increased, the protesters continued with chants of “Buhari wake up”, “Nigeria does not belong to one tribe”, “Nigeria does not belong to Fulani”. ‘We say no to Jihad, we say no to sharia law, stop El- Rufai”.
There were also chants of “Fulani jihadist are killing us”, “Buhari wake up, we have the right to choose our faith, and we have chosen to be Christians.”
They accused both the federal government and the state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, of letting the Christians in southern Kaduna down, and turning a blind eye to the killings of over 2000 people. They urged “El-Rufai to go, if he cannot protect the lives of Christians”.
While addressing The Guardian reporters, Rita Allahmagani, the SOKAPDA President said the reason they have decided stage this protest is to make the international community know that what is happening in southern Kaduna is not a “conflict, but genocide.”
Asked what they want the international community to do, she said: “let them rise up to their responsibility and help. We want the UK, US and France to come in, and prevail on the government to end the killings.”
They later handed a letter to an official of the Nigerian High Commission, who assured them that their message will surely get to the president through the ambassador as reported by Guardian Newspaper
Recall that, countless events of herdsmen and boko haram killings have been on the top notch in Southern Kaduna resulting into the loss of more than 2000 lives being murdered in cooled blood, yet no tangible measures have been taken to curtail or bring a lasting solution by the federal government and the Kaduna State government.
By Chinenye Gertrude
GGB reports
Gbos Gist Blog 