As scores of sympathisers trooped to condole with the vicitims'
families, they were unanimous in condemning the killings. As was
expected, the mood of residents in Dan Nakola village of Daura local
government area was sober. A father of one of the victims, Maigari
Mamman who described the killing as high point of recklessness by the
security operatives, urged the federal government to commence
investigation on the murder, describing attempts to link the murdered
young men with Boko Haram as deliberate tactics to cover an obvious
wrong.
Mamman said his son, Nura Maigari, 18, who was murdered in the incident was his last hope as according to him, “he is the one who sends money to us once in a while to assist in buying maize and other food items. They just attacked them and killed him without just cause.”
The 55-year-old, surrounded by scores of sympathisers, spoke to our correspondent at his residence in Dan Nakola village of Daura local government, wept uncontrollably.
“My last moment with him was when he called to ask how we are faring at home and I told him all that he needed to know concerning myself, his mother and all his siblings. He even promised to send us a little money as he usually does, only for me to be told that he had been killed”
Mamman absolved his child of any wrong doing, insisting that the late Nura was struggling to augment the family’s meagre income through truck pushing. “He was someone who cannot even hurt a fly as he had never fought with anyone in his life. Nura was always smiling.”
It would be recalled that five of those killed were indigenes of Katsina who hailed from Daura, Kaita, Funtua, Malumfashi and Bakori council areas of the state. Those killed included Suleiman Imrana from
Kaita LG, Ashiru Musa, Bakori LG, Nura Maigari Mamman, Daura and Mamman Abdullahi from Funtua LG.
In a not so dissimilar tone, father of Suleiman Imrana, said his son had been selling local herbs in Abuja for the past seven years and had not been associated with anything illegal in any way.
“In the whole of my life, I have never seen a gruesome murder like that of my son,” he sobbed. “His body was riddled with bullets which cut across all parts. His skull was completely shattered. I was told that the security men attacked them while they were asleep.”
He noted that arrangements had been concluded for the wedding of Imrana, “but this murder has scuttled every plans we had”, insisting that the only way out was for government to conduct an independent investigation on the matter so as to punish culprits and compensate victims’ parents.
Also speaking to our correspondent, a youth leader and former councilor of Dan Nakola electoral ward of Daura LG, Audi Idi who described the murder as “over zealousness of security operatives taken to the extreme”, appealed to relevant civil society organisations to intervene in the matter so as to ensure justice for families of the slain young men.
“This is happening at a time when we are urging youths to go out in search of jobs so as to be self-reliant. You ask some youths to stand up and fend for themselves because government cannot employ everybody and while they are standing up, security operatives who should be protecting them are killing them. Where are we headed to?” Idi asked rhetorically.
Former secretary to Katsina state government (SSG), Dr Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa who sympathized with parents of the victims, added his voice to condemnations that trailed the killings, insisting that perpetrators of the act must face the law.
Speaking to our correspondent, Inuwa said the killing “is unfortunate, tragic, and barbaric and should be condemned by every right thinking person in Nigeria” and noted that sweeping the matter under the carpet could engender culture of impunity.
“Federal government should investigate the matter and punish those behind it. The investigation should be done in the open for all and sundry to see”, Inuwa noted just as he urged the international community to intervene and attune for the murder.
Dr Inuwa chided the Katsina state government for allegedly maintaining silence since the incidence occurred“ as if the lives wasted do not matter to the government.”
He insisted that the state government ought to have issued strongly worded statement condemning the incidence and condole with families of the victims noting, “it is unfortunate that up to this moment, the state government has not said anything.“
The community of Moriki town under Zurmi local government area of Zamfara state was probably the worst affected in the recent Apo killings.
The community lost one member, with three allegedly missing, while seven sustained various degree of injuries during the attack by security agents.
When our correspondent visited the affected families, the picture was that of confusion and psychological trauma still haunting the bereaved community, while families of the deceased were still sobbing in sorrow.
Malama Aisha is the widow with two orphans aged one and two years , left behind by one of the victims, Ahmadu Musa.
Aged about 20, Aisha said ‘my late husband was my hope, because I and my little children depend on him for feeding and other needs,” expressing her regret that now the Nigerian security have pinned a false blame on him and murdered him, claiming that he was a Boko Haram member.
“My husband was a Keke NAPEP commercial driver who earned his livelihood from legal labour,” she complained, adding that she will never forget or forgive those behind the cold- blooded and extra judicial killing.
“I will continue to pray that my sufferings and that of my little orphans will haunt those behind the killing of my innocent husband,” cried Aisha, blaming the government for the neglect of the lives of the poor Nigerian citizens.
Mamman said his son, Nura Maigari, 18, who was murdered in the incident was his last hope as according to him, “he is the one who sends money to us once in a while to assist in buying maize and other food items. They just attacked them and killed him without just cause.”
The 55-year-old, surrounded by scores of sympathisers, spoke to our correspondent at his residence in Dan Nakola village of Daura local government, wept uncontrollably.
“My last moment with him was when he called to ask how we are faring at home and I told him all that he needed to know concerning myself, his mother and all his siblings. He even promised to send us a little money as he usually does, only for me to be told that he had been killed”
Mamman absolved his child of any wrong doing, insisting that the late Nura was struggling to augment the family’s meagre income through truck pushing. “He was someone who cannot even hurt a fly as he had never fought with anyone in his life. Nura was always smiling.”
It would be recalled that five of those killed were indigenes of Katsina who hailed from Daura, Kaita, Funtua, Malumfashi and Bakori council areas of the state. Those killed included Suleiman Imrana from
Kaita LG, Ashiru Musa, Bakori LG, Nura Maigari Mamman, Daura and Mamman Abdullahi from Funtua LG.
In a not so dissimilar tone, father of Suleiman Imrana, said his son had been selling local herbs in Abuja for the past seven years and had not been associated with anything illegal in any way.
“In the whole of my life, I have never seen a gruesome murder like that of my son,” he sobbed. “His body was riddled with bullets which cut across all parts. His skull was completely shattered. I was told that the security men attacked them while they were asleep.”
He noted that arrangements had been concluded for the wedding of Imrana, “but this murder has scuttled every plans we had”, insisting that the only way out was for government to conduct an independent investigation on the matter so as to punish culprits and compensate victims’ parents.
Also speaking to our correspondent, a youth leader and former councilor of Dan Nakola electoral ward of Daura LG, Audi Idi who described the murder as “over zealousness of security operatives taken to the extreme”, appealed to relevant civil society organisations to intervene in the matter so as to ensure justice for families of the slain young men.
“This is happening at a time when we are urging youths to go out in search of jobs so as to be self-reliant. You ask some youths to stand up and fend for themselves because government cannot employ everybody and while they are standing up, security operatives who should be protecting them are killing them. Where are we headed to?” Idi asked rhetorically.
Former secretary to Katsina state government (SSG), Dr Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa who sympathized with parents of the victims, added his voice to condemnations that trailed the killings, insisting that perpetrators of the act must face the law.
Speaking to our correspondent, Inuwa said the killing “is unfortunate, tragic, and barbaric and should be condemned by every right thinking person in Nigeria” and noted that sweeping the matter under the carpet could engender culture of impunity.
“Federal government should investigate the matter and punish those behind it. The investigation should be done in the open for all and sundry to see”, Inuwa noted just as he urged the international community to intervene and attune for the murder.
Dr Inuwa chided the Katsina state government for allegedly maintaining silence since the incidence occurred“ as if the lives wasted do not matter to the government.”
He insisted that the state government ought to have issued strongly worded statement condemning the incidence and condole with families of the victims noting, “it is unfortunate that up to this moment, the state government has not said anything.“
The community of Moriki town under Zurmi local government area of Zamfara state was probably the worst affected in the recent Apo killings.
The community lost one member, with three allegedly missing, while seven sustained various degree of injuries during the attack by security agents.
When our correspondent visited the affected families, the picture was that of confusion and psychological trauma still haunting the bereaved community, while families of the deceased were still sobbing in sorrow.
Malama Aisha is the widow with two orphans aged one and two years , left behind by one of the victims, Ahmadu Musa.
Aged about 20, Aisha said ‘my late husband was my hope, because I and my little children depend on him for feeding and other needs,” expressing her regret that now the Nigerian security have pinned a false blame on him and murdered him, claiming that he was a Boko Haram member.
“My husband was a Keke NAPEP commercial driver who earned his livelihood from legal labour,” she complained, adding that she will never forget or forgive those behind the cold- blooded and extra judicial killing.
“I will continue to pray that my sufferings and that of my little orphans will haunt those behind the killing of my innocent husband,” cried Aisha, blaming the government for the neglect of the lives of the poor Nigerian citizens.
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