Zango Kartaf Religious Crisis... Lessons learnt !!!

Religious conflicts all over the world has been a societal and environmental  issue as far back as 12 BC, but this man-made disaster still rings a bell and turns the head of everyone who hears about its occurrence in any part of the world. They have been many histories of war, violence, disputes and environmental conflicts in countries of different ethnic groups, culture, language and even religion even from the days of Greek and Roman deities like Zeus, Poseidon and even Athena which rolls back to thousands of years ago. From that time till date, stories and events of religious wars of superiority has been in existence and still occurs in many countries of the world which includes our very own Nigeria.

Nigeria is predominately made up of two religious groups which include the Christians and the Muslims ever since her amalgamation in 1914 and the both group are predominately found in the southern and northern regions respectively. Despite the religious differences, the both groups have since coexisted peacefully and this is the reason why you many Christians are seen living, schooling and doing businesses in the northern part of the country peacefully. Marriages have even been seen exist peacefully between the both different religious and children have been raised in love, humility and peace.

However, ever since the first religious outburst crisis in 1987 at the College of Education Kafanchan, in Kaduna state, no one has been at ease as most of the right thinking members of the society described the incident as ugly. This crisis soon spread to other parts of the state leading to the burning of places of worship, with many lives and properties worth millions lost.
When the situation got out of hand, the Army stepped in by declaring a dusk to dawn curfew with a shoot at sight order of any person or group of persons found perpetrating violence in any form or constituting nuisance. Life in Kaduna State returned to normal after about a week and most people believed that such a thing would not happen again being the first religious crisis ever in Northern Nigeria.
Without knowing that more was coming as there were more surprises, a similar crisis was recorded in 1992, in Zango Kataf which was believed to of be an ethnic dimension. The town of Zango-Kataf is an enclave of mainly Muslim Hausa-Fulanis in an area dominated by the mostly Christian Katafs. Although the tension between the two communities has been long-standing, in February 1992, riot broke out over a local government decision to move the market from a Hausa area to one dominated by Katafs. Sixty people were killed and properties were destroyed including residential houses, and cars owned by the both groups. As if all that was not enough, the last straw broke the camels back in May of the same year and the worst rioting broke out. This was reported to have occurred apparently after the Kataf attacked the Hausa community and the violence spread to Kaduna, where it was mainly directed by Hausa against Christians. Several churches were burned down and Christian ministers killed. The official death toll was 300 but unofficial estimates were as high as several thousand. In addition, Over 60,000 people abandoned their business and fled their homes to the nearby states for safety. 

The conflict in Zango-Kataf in southern Kaduna State illustrates the explosive mix of religious and ethnic rivalry, as well as the highly partial approach of the authorities which has succeeded in inflaming conflict. Neighbours killed neighbours and several children and women were badly affected aside the men who were slaughtered inflicting trauma and tension to all involved.

The official response to the violence was to arrest several hundred Katafs, most of whom were held without charge. Six prominent Katafs, including Major-General Zamani Lekwot, a former ambassador, were charged with complicity in the riots before a specially constituted Civil Disturbances Special Tribunal. The prosecution withdrew its case, but the accused were rearrested by security agents as they left the court.

By September 1991, they were charged again, with a total of 14 people being sentenced to death by two Civil Disturbances Tribunals, including Major-General Lekwot. The hearings had all the same defects as the tribunal which heard the case of Ken Saro-Wiwa and other Ogoni activists, since they were constituted under the same law. In this instance, the Government commuted the death sentences to five years' imprisonment.
Although another religious crisis which spread to other parts of the country was recorded in 1999, its impact was not as in depth as that of the Zango Kartaf 1991. Conflicts are known to exist but can also be avoided with a dialogue or mutual peaceful resolution instead of destroying lives and properties and also making children homeless and vulnerable.

Aside the ugly events of the Nigerian civil war, other conflicts like the Zango Kartaf, Aguleri/Umuleri, the Jos crisis and political riots from the masses have never changed the position of the government. This is because it is only the government that have a better understanding of the needs, issues and problems of the people and works day in and out to meet them. Patriotism is not dying for the nation or killing other people in the name of religion, patriotism is standing by the government and loving one another as religious conflicts can be settled with the love values every Nigerian religion represents.

Burying The Hatchet Of June 12....

Understanding the depth of every event in a nation, does not just help in retraining our misdemeanors but also takes a long train in giving us a clear picture of what needs to be done when the things fall apart. Crisis, issues and conflicts are bound to occur in every ecological habit, as a matter of fact even in the animal kingdom but it could also be avoided if we take time to think, think and think again. Wars, genocides, homicides and even manslaughter are events that have occurred repeatedly in countries, states, towns, villages and even in our domestic homes but just a pause for a moment gives the victims and perpetrators another chance. It gives us the chance to think, negotiate, resolve, appeal or let go of certain disputes that can’t be changed, controlled or reversed through the means of own human or government capacity.

The incidence of June 12 1993 rolling about 20 years ago still remains evergreen in our memory as Nigerians even to those who were and those who heard. Like a fresh wound to the effected, it still bleeds and the marks are still seen in every area of the democracy we practice today as a nation. From the planning, the campaign, the election, the result, the annulment by Gen Ibrahim Babangida, the protests, the riots, killings, arrests and change of power, all the events still stare us in the face. This also makes us accountable as a nation ever since that attempt to embrace democracy was thwarted.

Nigerians cannot sweep under the carpet the impact of June 12 in the democratic government and the politics we are plunged in today. That election was noted as the freest and fairest election since our independence by both local and international observers and it was also tagged the most successful and controversial election of all times till date in Nigeria. Why?

Aside the properties that were destroyed, lives that were lost and ethnic stigmatization and disparity in the minds of people who were most affected like Chief MKO Abiola. Many prominent Nigerians like Chief Alfred Rewane, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Gen. Shehu Yar’Adua, Bagauda Kalto, Suliat Adedeji and many others lost their lives while the Publisher of Guardian Newspaper, the late Chief Alex Ibru, and a leading member of the Afenifere socio-cultural organisation, Chief Abraham Adesanya, escaped assassination attempts by a whisker. Chief MKO Abiola died in prison prior to his release and the Properties lost, the businesses that were affected, and the poor Innocent Nigerians that were killed as a result of shot outs during the riots and protests cannot be accounted for. These crises also resulted in a shift of power from Gen. Babangida to Chief Shonekon and a coup by General Sani Abacha though bloodless but still an after math of the annulment of the June 12 election.

In as much as it is the duty of the government to protect the rights of the citizens of Nigeria, However, the motivation for this should not be tagged wholly on the poor governance experienced at that time but to all the wrong actions that were taken by some Nigerians citizens that resulted to a multiple chain reactions backfiring in an attempt to take laws into our hands. Though we have been able to bury the hatchet, aside the violence, murder, protests and attacks on innocent people, human rights were shattered and the victimised still heals.

The election crisis of June 12 1993, birth the 1999 democratic rule in Nigeria and the south west was given an opportunity to rule as compensation for the ciaos that occurred after the annulment. Although this was not enough as it would never make up for the lives lost, the rights dashed, the pain in the heart of the bereaved families and the properties destroyed but it also created a golden opportunity for good Nigerians to form the People Democratic Party (PDP),All Nigerians Peoples’ Party (ANPP) and  Alliance for Democracy (AD). Hereby bringing the American two party methods we adopted to an absolute end and we embracing a three or more parties democratic system in Nigeria.

Although many years have passed by and Nigeria may have healed from that traumatic experience ranging from the multiple killings, undeserved arrests, torture and human rights violation during the Abacha regime. In all these lapses, we arose stronger than the whole world expected and we still excel in all the world activities ranging from football, literature, entertainment and even politics. Yet truth be told, whatever the reason for the June 12 1993 election annulment was, the only one lasting solution to the dilemma would have just been a repeat of that election. We Nigerians should not subject our fellow Nigerians to misery and pain then expect love from other countries. We must love ourselves first and give resolution thinking to crisis and conflicts and this is because when there is a headache, a doctor is consulted; we don’t cut off our heads.

Chibok Girls...What Is Their Health Status?

Kidnapping is a menace in our present day society and although it is not an act Nigeria is proud of as a nation, several measures have been taken to cut out this virus from our country permanently. This human rights violation keeps rising by the day and has even spread to our secondary institutions causing environmental unrest in the school system to both the young students and the school teachers. This issue has become a cause for concern in Nigeria as a nation, and to our neighboring countries in West Africa such as Niger, Benin, Chad and Cameroun.

Just recently, its wings spread to Asia, Europe and even America raising even more concern as about 200 teenage girls were kidnapped from a secondary school in Chibok, a small town in Borno state, the North eastern part of Nigeria. This was done by a sect known as the boko haram which abhor western education especially for girls, stating they should get married instead of going to school. This mishap has gone viral in the past one month, with several Nigerian and international dignitaries airing their view about the human right and gender violation act. The press and social media platform has also lent their voice with the harsh tag #bringbackourgirls which attracted the attention of both Government of other countries and international celebrities. Thousands of concerned Nigerians have taken to the streets on protest in Nigeria and residents of other countries of the world seeking international help and actions.

Many Health organizations in and outside Nigeria, have raised an alarm on the health implications of letting the girls stay longer than they already have. This is because of the physical, social and mental/psychological health implications associated with kidnapping, especially a vulnerable group of young girls. These young girls have since been exposed to harsh weather conditions and other physical maltreatment including abuse and some other health conditions like...

ü Rape

ü Unplanned pregnancy

ü HIV and other sexually transmitted infections

ü Unsafe abortion

ü Early Motherhood

ü Visco vaginal fistula

ü Recto Vaginal Fistula

ü Shock

ü Psychological Trauma

ü Hallucinations

ü Bed Wetting

ü Nightmares

ü Genophobia

ü Sexual dysfunction

ü Low self esteem

ü Low self gratification

ü Violent behaviours

ü Urinary tract infection (UTI)

ü Pelvic Inflammatory diseases (PID)

ü Unwanted Media exposure

ü Pneumonia

ü Extreme introverted behaviours

ü Exposure to reptiles such as snakes and other creeping animals

ü Poor personal hygiene

ü Harsh weather conditions

ü Starvation

ü insecurity

ü Dehydration

ü Malaria

ü Typhoid

ü Meningitis

ü Tuberculosis

ü Social stigmatisation

ü Poor mental health

ü Poor patriotism

ü Fear

ü Anxiety

ü Prolonged unhappiness

ü Panic attacks

ü Poor health condition as a result of prolonged untreated illnesses



It should be noted that all these and many more unmentioned health conditions could arise a result of not taking care of these girls and the absence of a doctor’s attention. The Chibok girls have been through so much and will be needing proper medical attention, therapy and counselling once they have been released. They are young girls; young minds that must be saved from the entire trauma associated with what they have been through and all hands must be on deck to get this done. Their human rights have been violated and their gender sensitivity has been scattered, therefore all the doctors, counsellors, psychologist and all the people who work with Nigerian youths must get ready for the task ahead.