By: Mayen Etim
KADUNA, North-West, Nigeria – The Atyap Community Development Association, (ACDA) has debunked the allegations by one Nura Bako Zango that the recent happenings in Zango Urban, Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State were carried out by the Atyap people.
Even as ACDA referred to the claims as highly traducing and injurious campaign of calumny against its people and considered it a tort of grievous legal consequences.
A statement signed by the group’s President, Samuel T. Achie, and made available to newsmen in Kaduna on Tuesday, called on the Government at all levels to shed off its partisan toga and adopt a more neutral and proactive approach in resolving the crisis, saying it is a better option for everyone.
“Our attention has been drawn to a highly traducing and injurious campaign of calumny against the Atyap people concocted and orchestrated by one Nura Bako Zango. This is considered a tort of grievous legal consequences.
“In his spurious narrative, a lot of frivolous, baseless and sentimental issues were raised with the sole aim of whipping public sympathy against the Atyap ethnic group. For these reasons, we want to set the records straight and to make bare to the general public what has been happening to us the Atyap for men and women of good conscience act.
“First and foremost, we want to register our sympathy to the people of Zango Urban and the Atyap communities living around them for the disruption in businesses on the said date and above all, for the psychological trauma that accompanied the attempted attack by the unknown gun-men which is likely going to remain in the subconscious minds of many for a while; may God heal such minds.
“We hereby clearly, categorically and unambiguously state that the attempts on Zango Urban were not carried out by the Atyap people. Consequently, until Nura is able to prove beyond all doubts that such attempts were perpetrated by the Atyap, our people will reserve the right to take legal action against him in the law courts to redeem our tarnished name and image and secure an appropriate remedy,” the statement stated.
According to the ACDA President, the horrific experience of the indigenous Atyap nation is virtually a daily affair with hardly any timely military intervention; adding that in over 95 per cent of all attacks against the Atyap there is but complete absence of security intervention.
“This is, however, the sad reality the Atyap have had to live with: in total carnage and genocide as against the attempted attack on Zango Urban as alleged by Nura.
“As unfortunate as the event of the night in question is, it is but a child’s play compared to the genocidal putsch against the Atyap which has been continuously going on for more than a year and a half now.
“We have learned to bury our dead, nurse the wounded and resettle the displaced without even words of commiseration from the authorities. These marauders carry out their genocide with fanfare and arrogance as they call most of their victims by name telling them to come out before slaughtering them.
“The intent of Nura’s inciting statement against the Atyap people will flatly fail because there is God that controls the affairs of men; a God who, though patient, will definitely act at the right time.
“Let us reiterate this fact in no ambiguous terms: We, the Atyap nation have gotten to the point of no return in defending our land. We will continue to do so with all the energy, resources and every ounce of blood in our bodies until the last Atyap man standing. History, truth, justice and, most importantly, God, are all on our side. We will never give up. We can never give up. We are Atyap will not give up.”