ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Survivors of the fatal terrorist attack on Naridon village in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, have recounted the horror they witnessed during the assault that claimed 30 lives, including five siblings from the same family, Daily Trust reports.

The armed attackers stormed the village in the early hours of Monday, shooting sporadically at residents.

They k!lled dozens of people, set houses ablaze, looted food items and forced villagers to flee into nearby bushes for safety.

Although security has since been reinforced and relative calm restored, many residents said they were still afraid to return home for fear that the attackers might strike again.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the security and intelligence agencies to track down the perpetrators.Politics

Speaking on Tuesday during a visit by security agencies, the survivors described the attack as cruel and devastating.

One of them linked the assault to the recent k!lling of a herder whose body was allegedly dumped in the community.

One of the survivors, Auta Danladi, who lost his father and an uncle, said he survived only by the grace of God.

He said his parents refused to flee when the gunmen invaded the community and his father was later k!lled.

“When I heard that the attackers were coming, I rushed out of the house. There was confusion everywhere and everyone started running for safety,” he said.

“I tried all I could to persuade my father and my mother to leave, but they refused. In the end, my father was k!lled. I quickly ran into the bush and hid.

“I saw the attackers pass close to where I was lying, but God did not allow them to see me. They burned our house and my in-law’s house as well.

“I have left everything in the hands of God. I don’t have the strength to fight, but God witnessed what they did.

“As the first son of the family, I was shattered when I learned that my father and my uncle had been k!lled. My father was the one I depended on for survival, but now he is gone.”

Another survivor, Alheri Joseph, said the sound of gunfire shattered the peace of the night and forced families to flee for their lives.

“We were sitting together when we suddenly heard gunshots from different directions. I escaped with my children to another village, while those who remained behind were k!lled.

“Why did they attack us? What is our offence? We are living in fear because we don’t know whether they will come back again. We are worried that this may not be the end.

“We are deeply pained by the death of our relatives. They were our loved ones, our friends, our parents and members of our families.

“We are calling on the government to do justice for us. Whenever such incidents happen, government officials come, make promises and later forget them. This is not just about bringing relief materials. Lives have been lost. What we need is protection,” he said.

Another resident, Blessing Luka, who lost her co-wife and other relatives in the attack, said the community had no idea why it was targeted.

“We were sleeping peacefully without knowing what was happening. I remember that about two weeks ago, a herder was k!lled somewhere and his body was abandoned in our village. His relatives later came to evacuate the body.

“We don’t know who k!lled him or what happened. We had no involvement in it, but suddenly they came and attacked us, k!lling our family members. This is not the first time such k!llings have happened here, yet nothing has been done to stop them,” she said.

The survivors appealed to security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to take decisive action to end the recurring attacks and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

They said the community could no longer continue to live under the constant fear of losing more innocent lives.

“Why did they attack us? What is our offence? We are living in fear because we don’t know whether they will come back again. We are worried that this may not be the end.

“We are deeply pained by the death of our relatives. They were our loved ones, our friends, our parents and members of our families.

“We are calling on the government to do justice for us. Whenever such incidents happen, government officials come, make promises and later forget them. This is not just about bringing relief materials. Lives have been lost. What we need is protection,” he said.

Another resident, Blessing Luka, who lost her co-wife and other relatives in the attack, said the community had no idea why it was targeted.

“We were sleeping peacefully without knowing what was happening. I remember that about two weeks ago, a herder was k!lled somewhere and his body was abandoned in our village. His relatives later came to evacuate the body.

“We don’t know who k!lled him or what happened. We had no involvement in it, but suddenly they came and attacked us, k!lling our family members. This is not the first time such k!llings have happened here, yet nothing has been done to stop them,” she said.

The survivors appealed to security agencies and other relevant stakeholders to take decisive action to end the recurring attacks and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

They said the community could no longer continue to live under the constant fear of losing more innocent lives.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

…Kalu Calls for Urgent FG Intervention

More than 10 houses have been swallowed by massive gully erosion in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, leaving scores of people internally displaced.

In a bid to address the crisis, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, on Wednesday led officials of the Ecological Project Office including the Director, Soil and Erosion Flood Control, B’aba Bomoi to the sites in Uzuakoli and Ozuitem communities for an emergency assessment of the affected areas.

Residents say the number of destroyed homes has continue to rise weekly as the rains persist, with the streets and farmlands collapsing into widening gullies.

The erosion is also threatening the residence of the Special Assistant on State Affairs in the Office of the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Ikenna Ariwodo and many others.

Describing the situation as “a matter of urgent public importance,” Kalu called on National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Ecological Project Office to intervene immediately, stressing that the disaster has overwhelmed the capacity of the state government.

Speaking at the site in Uzuakoli, the Deputy Speaker who represents Bende Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives said he had much earlier in the term submitted an application to the Ecological Office through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation when the erosion was less severe.

He explained that the erosion now spans over 4 to 5 kilometers and requires a fresh assessment and a much larger federal intervention.

He said: “I want to first thank the federal government for creating ecological funds office. It is under the presidency. I am sure the ecological funds office was created in view of issues that have affected mainly the South East, because we are the ecological headquarters or erosion headquarters of the world.

“Honestly speaking, I came here about two or three years ago, it was not this massive. When I made the application to the ecological funds office, it was not as big as this.

“To be honest, the amount I was asking for to solve this will be a far cry from what would be used in solving this. In fact, it is about twenty times over what I had projected when I laid that application two or three years ago.

“We have to do a reassessment of what this has become and find a way of giving a lasting solution to it. I know the capacity of your office to handle this,” he told the visiting team.

Kalu thanked the Ecological Office for its prompt response, noting that the visit followed a meeting held in his office with the Permanent Secretary in the project office.

“This is not what a state can do. I know many people have been saying the state government should come and intervene. I think this is beyond the state. Here, we can partner with the state, but this is a federal government project. If we really want to do it and do it well, we need the federal government presence here”, he said.

He recalled how a similar intervention was secured for Nkpa for which a bridge was later built during the Buhari administration after he moved a motion on June 13, 2019, expressing optimism that President Bola Tinubu’s government which graciously approved the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and two tertiary institutions in Bende will do the same for Uzuakoli and Ozuitem erosion menaces.

Touring other affected areas in Ozuitem with the technical team from the Ecological Office to determine the scope of damage, Kalu lamented that the South East bears the brunt of ecological disasters in Nigeria.

He urged immediate action to prevent further loss of homes and displacement, stressing that the current situation is far worse than what was captured in the initial application.

“This is affecting mainly the South East. We are counting on the federal government, counting on Mr. President to see this as a real need of our people,” the Deputy Speaker added.

In his remarks, Director Bomoi who led the technical team of the Office bemoaned the situation, stressing that it is life threatening.

“This one is quite threatening, not only to the environment, not only to the property, even lives. And if you can look at it now the encroachment has already taken over almost the entire farmland”, he said.

It will be recalled that the women from the affected communities recently staged a mass walk, demanding urgent government intervention.

The Ecological Funds team is expected to submit its assessment report to guide federal government intervention.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr. Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, has called for deeper collaboration between government and professional institutions as Nigeria intensifies efforts to build a more resilient, competitive, and robust sustainable economy.

Speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Institute of Architects International Integrated Research for Development Conference Programmes (NIA IINFRADCO) in Abuja, Mr. Danjuma said the Federal Government recognises that achieving sustainable economic growth requires purposeful partnerships that harnesses professional expertise, innovation, and institutional capacity.

He noted that professional bodies have an important role to play in shaping policies, strengthening human capital, encouraging innovation, and supporting infrastructure development that delivers lasting value to Nigerians.

The Permanent Secretary described NIA IINFRADCO as a forward looking institution whose work in research, capacity development, and professional excellence aligns with the Federal Government’s drive to diversify the economy, improve productivity, and create opportunities for inclusive growth.

He stressed that the Ministry of Finance will continue to support meaningful engagement with institutions whose programmes contribute practical solutions to national development priorities.

Mr. Danjuma urged the Institute to sustain its commitment to innovation and professional development while strengthening collaboration with government and other stakeholders to unlock new opportunities for investment, enterprise, job creation, and sustainable infrastructure development.

He reaffirmed that strategic partnerships remain indispensable to building an economy that is stronger, more competitive, and better positioned to meet the aspirations of present and future generations.

Earlier, the Chairman of NIA IINFRADCO, Arc. M. B. Bello, said the Institute is committed to promoting professional excellence through research, capacity development, executive education, consultancy, and innovation to support sustainable national development.

He explained that the Institute seeks to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and professional practice while equipping architects and other built environment professionals with the skills needed to respond to emerging industry demands.

Adding that stronger collaboration between government, the private sector, academic institutions, and development partners is essential to achieving sustainable infrastructure and economic growth.

Arc. Bello noted that the Institute is positioning itself as a centre of excellence in architectural education, research, and professional development, with programmes focused on certification, policy advocacy, executive training, and consultancy to strengthen the built environment sector.

He expressed confidence that sustained collaboration with the Federal Government and other stakeholders would enhance innovation, improve infrastructure delivery, and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s long term economic development.