Kaduna: Atyap Community Condemns Petition Against Agwatyap, Urges Investigations

By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna

The Atyap Community Development Association (ACDA) has strongly condemned an anonymous petition against His Royal Highness, Agwatyap, Sir Dominic Gambo Yahaya, accusing him of injustices and oppression against the Hausa and Fulani community in Zangon Urban, Kaduna State.

In a statement signed by its President, Dr. Samuel T. Achie, ACDA described the petition as a clear attempt to sow discord and revive communal violence.

The petition, signed by “Concerned Residents of Zango Urban,” alleges that Agwatyap has misused his powers to oppress the community, denying them access to farmlands that their forefathers cultivated for over 400 years.

ACDA described the petition as “baseless, malicious, and without any iota of truth,” saying it’s a desperate attempt to tarnish Agwatyap’s reputation and destabilize the peace in Atyap Chiefdom and Zangon Kataf Local Government Area. The association challenged the authors of the petition to come out publicly and prove the allegations.

Agwatyap, Sir Dominic Gambo Yahaya, is known for his commitment to peacebuilding and inclusive dialogue. He has consistently championed just and fair dealing in his Chiefdom, promoting peaceful coexistence among all ethnic and religious groups. ACDA affirmed its unwavering support for Agwatyap, describing him as a peace-builder and statesman.

The association clarified that land ownership in Atyap land is based on individual or family ownership, not tribe or ethnic group. Land disputes are typically settled through traditional arbitration or in the regular courts, not through incitement or blackmail of traditional leaders or ethnic groups.

ACDA called on security agencies to investigate the authorship and intent of the petition and bring the perpetrators to book. They also urged the traditional leadership of Zango Urban District to desist from sponsoring or supporting inflammatory propaganda against the Atyap traditional institution.

The association reaffirmed its loyalty to Agwatyap, the Kaduna State Government, and the Federal Government of Nigeria, pledging to remain law-abiding. They urged all sons and daughters of Atyap land and well-meaning Nigerians to disregard the petition and support the peace efforts in the area.

The Atyap has been working tirelessly to maintain peace in the region, despite facing numerous challenges, including attacks from suspected Fulani militias. In 2021, the community reported over 50 villagers massacred, 254 houses destroyed, and 7 churches burned down. The association has consistently called for government intervention to protect the lives and properties of its people.

They vowed to resist this with all lawful means available and demanded a retraction of the inciting and libelous publication. The association also called on the security agencies to carry out a detailed investigation to unmask the authorship and intent of the petition.