*32 martyrs buried in accordance to Islamic rights – Concerned Citizen
*Demands NCEF, CAN must apologise to Nigerians over misinformation
*Slams media for underreporting Sokoto killing against Benue, Plateau
The citizen, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said, “Now, 32 innocent Nigerians have been killed in Sokoto State and they have been peacefully buried by their kinsmen without the governor threatening heavens and earth and without the Nigerian Muslim Community agitating even much as the state that is the scene of incident is Seat of Caliphate that is the Spiritual Leadership of Nigeria’s over 90 million Muslims. Had it been in Jos or Benue, imagine that Nigeria would have been in chaos since Wednesday. But we thank God it is now not so in the case of these Muslims even though you people in the media still repeated your bias and unfortunate misdoing by not giving the killing the adequate coverage that it requires.”
President of The DEFENDER Newspaper, AIG Mu’azu Idris Hadejia (Rtd), on Thursday, sent a condolence message to the Sultanate Council and Government of Sokoto State sympathizing with them over the killing of 32 people by gunmen in Gandi village and nearby communities of Rabah Local Government Area of the state.
In the electronic message sent separately to the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and Governor of Sokoto State Dr. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on his behalf by the Director and Editor of The DEFENDER Newspaper, Prince Bashir Adefaka, AIG Idris Hadejia said it was with sadness that he rose to “sympathise with the Sultan, Govt and good people of Sokoto State over the incident of killings of over 30 people in the state.
He urged the two trado-religious and government leaders to “take heart and be comforted by the fact that Allah who sees all things will see you and all of us through as a nation.
“On our own, we will continue to make reportage which condemns hate speeches and incitement among Nigerians as our own contribution to solution,” he said.
The 32 martyrs had been buried in the affected communities in accordance to the Islamic rites at a funeral attended by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who described the attack as unfortunate and said government would continue to support security agencies to check the menace.
On his attendance on Wednesday, Governor Tambuwal said, “Government will continue to work with all security agencies in ensuring the safety of the people especially at this difficult times,’’ Tambuwal said while addressing the people.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the State Government had supplied relief materials to the people displaced by the attack at the Internally Displaced Persons camp located at Gandi Model Primary School in Gandi town of Rabbah local government area.
“Our presence here is to sympathise with the victims of this unfortunate situation and assure them of the necessary security and relief materials.
“This is in order to ease their suffering most especially at this difficult time of such need,” Tambuwal said.
The governor further assured the victims that the state government would continue to provide all the necessary materials for their stay at the camp.
“We will continue to supply relief materials and medical assistance as well as ensure speedy rehabilitation of the victims in their various communities.
The Chairman of the Sokoto State Zakkat and Endowment Commission, Malam Lawal Maidoki, said government was working hard to control the situation.
“We are all here to ensure that the situation is fully stabilised and to ease the suffering of the victims.
“The state government is working generously to speedily address the situation by providing all the necessary relief materials for the victims,” Maidoki said.
A witness, Malam Ali Na-Huro of Tabbani village, told NAN that the gunmen attacked Tabanni community on July 9, killed people and set all houses ablaze.
Na-Huro said that he was working on his farm when the attack occurred and while escaping, he saw more than 30 dead bodies.
“I passed more than 30 corpses, while many others fell into the river surrounding our village,” he said.
NAN reports that villages attacked by the gunmen included Tabanni, Gidan Barebari, Akuzo, Dankilawa and Buronga.
NCEF, CAN must apologise to Nigeria over misinformation – Respondent
In the meantime, a concerned Nigerian in Abuja who spoke to us on the Sokoto State fresh killing of 32 innocent Nigerians has insisted that the National Christian Elders’ Forum (NCEF) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) must be made by well meaning other Nigerians to apologise to the nation over their long time of misinformation and incitement of Nigerians against themselves thereby escalating killings in the land.
The citizen, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said, “Now, 32 innocent Nigerians have been killed in Sokoto State and they have been peacefully buried by their kinsmen without the governor threatening heavens and earth and without the Nigerian Muslim Community agitating even much as the state that is the scene of incident is Seat of Caliphate that is the Spiritual Leadership of Nigeria’s over 90 million Muslims. Had it been in Jos or Benue, imagine that Nigeria would have been in chaos since Wednesday. But we thank God it is now not so in the case of these Muslims even though you people in the media still repeated your bias and unfortunate misdoing by not giving the killing the adequate coverage that it requires. That is not withstanding. Allah is on our side and will expose all evil doers sponsoring the killings of innocent people for political or economic reasons in this country. He prayed.”
