…Says, “They are still morning, asking for justice in vain.”
by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
KADUNA STATE: Five years after, the Adara Chiefdom of Adara nation has released full glare but gory details of the murder of their Paramount Ruler, the Agom Adara, whose slain body was found on 26th October, 2018, in Kaduna State, under the immediate past administration.
In the sympathetic presentation, Adara natives, in the statement, expressed lamentation that even though, it was more than 5 years since the body of late Chief was found lying on the cold, hard floor, in the bush, where his murderers had left him, they are still mourning him till date, and demanding for justice for him, their other murdered natives, the displaced and the lands.
According to the release, the Agom Adara and wife were kidnapped on 18th October, 2018, with 3 of his aides, who were killed, while the slain body of the Chief was found on 26th October, 2018, even after a ransom was paid.
Titled, ‘Adara in Focus,’ the elaborate statement released and shared in Kaduna yesterday was, however, not signed, apparently for fear of victimization and unknown, as deeply expressed in the content and intent of the Adara people, who played the author roles in the text, riddled with facts, figures and evidences.
It reads: “On 30th May, 2018, the late Agom Adara received a letter to comment on the tentative change of nomenclature of the Adara Chiefdom.
“Please, note that the Kaduna State Governor had signed on May 29th, 2018, effecting the change of nomenclature of the Adara Chiefdom.
“On 21st of June, 2018, Adara Chiefdom wrote a letter to the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, rejecting the change of nomenclature. At the time, it was not known by the Adara Traditional Council, that it had been signed by the governor.
“On 18th October, the Agom Adara and his wife were kidnapped on their way back to the Palace. Three of his aides were murdered. On 20th October, 2018, the wife of the Agom was released by their kidnappers.
“On Sunday, 21st October, 2018, panic in Kaduna led to a 24-hour curfew in Kaduna State.
“On 22nd October, 2018, the governor of Kaduna State held a broadcast, with no mention of the kidnapped Agom. The next day, the governor held an emergency security meeting at the Government House and referred to the Agom Adara as Sarkin Kachia. This raised eyebrows from the Adara Chiefdom.
“The slain body of the Agom Adara was found on Friday, 26th October, 2018, even after a ransom was paid.
“After this, was when the Adara Traditional Council found out, through the Kaduna State Government Gazzete of 16th August, 2018, that Adara had been scrapped.
“In January, 2019, the Adara elders took the KDSG to court to get Adara Chiefdom back. In February, 2019, Adara elders were arrested on charges of ‘culpable homicide and killing of cows.’
“Between February and May, hundreds of Adara were attacked and killed in their homes and 12,480 Adara displaced.
“On May, 31st, 2019, the case against 7 Elders was dismissed for ‘lack of evidence’ after they had spent over 100 days in the Kaduna Convict Prison without bail or trial.
“Now, we continue to mourn our murdered Chief. It’s more than 5 years since his murdered remains was found lying on the cold, hard floor, in the bush, where his murderers had left him.
“Now, we continue to ask for justice for our murdered Agom Adara, for our murdered people, for our displaced people, and for our land. Let zeedan be free; free zeedan ooo!!, free zeedan.
“We are Adara, One Nation, One Body. This is the full information of what is going on in Afara people,” it narrated.