Southern
Kaduna is a region of of Kaduna State covering areas south of the city of
Kaduna, from Kaduna South local government area down to Plateau State.
The region
is inhabited by dozens of indigenous tribes and ethnicities and is most famous
for being dominated by adherents of the Christian religion as opposed to the
Muslim dominated Northern Kaduna.
is inhabited by dozens of indigenous tribes and ethnicities and is most famous
for being dominated by adherents of the Christian religion as opposed to the
Muslim dominated Northern Kaduna.
Southern
Kaduna is often confused for the Kaduna South local government Local Government
Area and also the Kaduna South Senatorial District.
Kaduna is often confused for the Kaduna South local government Local Government
Area and also the Kaduna South Senatorial District.
Kaduna
South Local Government Area, as the name implies, is a local government area in
Kaduna State, with headquarters in Makera in the city of Kaduna. The local
government area is located within Kaduna Central Senatorial District alongside
Kaduna North Local Government Area, Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Giwa, Chikun and
Kajuru local government areas. Kaduna South Senatorial District on the other
hand is a Senatorial Zone in Kaduna State comprising eight local government
areas of Zangon Kataf, Kagarko, Jema’a, Jaba, Kaura, Kauru, Kachia, and Sanga local
government areas.
South Local Government Area, as the name implies, is a local government area in
Kaduna State, with headquarters in Makera in the city of Kaduna. The local
government area is located within Kaduna Central Senatorial District alongside
Kaduna North Local Government Area, Birnin Gwari, Igabi, Giwa, Chikun and
Kajuru local government areas. Kaduna South Senatorial District on the other
hand is a Senatorial Zone in Kaduna State comprising eight local government
areas of Zangon Kataf, Kagarko, Jema’a, Jaba, Kaura, Kauru, Kachia, and Sanga local
government areas.
Southern
Kaduna as a region however covers all local government areas of Kaduna South
Senatorial District as well as three local government areas in Kaduna Central
Senatorial District, and one local government area in Kaduna North Senatorial
District.
Kaduna as a region however covers all local government areas of Kaduna South
Senatorial District as well as three local government areas in Kaduna Central
Senatorial District, and one local government area in Kaduna North Senatorial
District.
Southern
Kaduna is notably demarcated from Northern Kaduna by the River Kaduna, a
tributary of the River Niger that runs through the city. So, the region can also
be defined as the area southward of River Kaduna down to the state’s boundary
with Plateau State.
Kaduna is notably demarcated from Northern Kaduna by the River Kaduna, a
tributary of the River Niger that runs through the city. So, the region can also
be defined as the area southward of River Kaduna down to the state’s boundary
with Plateau State.
Below we
take a look at the history of Southern Kaduna, the everly unique tribes of
Southern Kaduna, and every other thing that might aid your understanding of the
resilient people of this beautiful region.
take a look at the history of Southern Kaduna, the everly unique tribes of
Southern Kaduna, and every other thing that might aid your understanding of the
resilient people of this beautiful region.
The History of Southern
Kaduna
Since the
early 1970s, Kaduna
State has experienced
various forms of
conflict. However, Southern Kaduna
has become the
threshold for violent
and massive killings
perpetrated especially in the years 1987, 1992, 2000 and 2011.
early 1970s, Kaduna
State has experienced
various forms of
conflict. However, Southern Kaduna
has become the
threshold for violent
and massive killings
perpetrated especially in the years 1987, 1992, 2000 and 2011.
In 1987,
violence erupted in the College of Education
Kafanchan where Christians
were attacked by
Muslims over an
alleged misrepresentation
and interpretation of the Quran.
The violence soon
extended to Zaria, Kaduna, Katsina, Ikara and other
places. Hundreds of Christians were killed, churches were burnt and
property worth millions destroyed.
violence erupted in the College of Education
Kafanchan where Christians
were attacked by
Muslims over an
alleged misrepresentation
and interpretation of the Quran.
The violence soon
extended to Zaria, Kaduna, Katsina, Ikara and other
places. Hundreds of Christians were killed, churches were burnt and
property worth millions destroyed.
In 1992, Zangon
Kataf was twice engulfed in violent clashes where indigenous
Christians of Atyap community were attacked by Muslims residents over the
relocation and opening of the market on the outskirts of the town in May of
1992. The market was initially located in an area dominated by the Muslim
community. It was sandwiched between
private houses and not conducive
for local trading. The
government relocated the market
to an open space favorable to
everyone, but the Muslim community saw this
as an affront both to their faith and businesses. They
therefore attacked Christian
communities in retaliation. This was followed
by the Sharia crisis in 2000 and
the post-presidential election violence in April 2011. The conflict
spread to many cities and towns within the state including Kafanchan.
Kataf was twice engulfed in violent clashes where indigenous
Christians of Atyap community were attacked by Muslims residents over the
relocation and opening of the market on the outskirts of the town in May of
1992. The market was initially located in an area dominated by the Muslim
community. It was sandwiched between
private houses and not conducive
for local trading. The
government relocated the market
to an open space favorable to
everyone, but the Muslim community saw this
as an affront both to their faith and businesses. They
therefore attacked Christian
communities in retaliation. This was followed
by the Sharia crisis in 2000 and
the post-presidential election violence in April 2011. The conflict
spread to many cities and towns within the state including Kafanchan.
The most
recent violent conflict in Southern Kaduna occurred in May 2016 where
Christians (mostly farmers) were attacked by Hausa-Fulani Muslim herdsmen.
recent violent conflict in Southern Kaduna occurred in May 2016 where
Christians (mostly farmers) were attacked by Hausa-Fulani Muslim herdsmen.
In
addition to attacks
started mostly by
the Muslim communities
against Christians, the government also failed to address the
situation justly and provide security for Christian majority communities. The
continuous conflict and government’s failure to provide justice led to cries of
marginalization and social
exclusion (on the
part of victims).
addition to attacks
started mostly by
the Muslim communities
against Christians, the government also failed to address the
situation justly and provide security for Christian majority communities. The
continuous conflict and government’s failure to provide justice led to cries of
marginalization and social
exclusion (on the
part of victims).
Additionally,
Kaduna State has become divided
along religious, ethnic
and socio-cultural lines with
different beliefs and traditions. On the one hand there is the
northern and Islamic Hausa/Fulani ethnicity, and on the other there are the
southern indigenous communities
that are predominantly Christian.
The northern part of Kaduna State became dominated by Hausa-Fulani Muslims and
the indigenous Christian
communities migrated to
Southern Kaduna.
Kaduna State has become divided
along religious, ethnic
and socio-cultural lines with
different beliefs and traditions. On the one hand there is the
northern and Islamic Hausa/Fulani ethnicity, and on the other there are the
southern indigenous communities
that are predominantly Christian.
The northern part of Kaduna State became dominated by Hausa-Fulani Muslims and
the indigenous Christian
communities migrated to
Southern Kaduna.
Settlements based
around religious affiliation and
ethnic groups became replicated in major towns such as Zonkwa, Kafanchan and
Kachia. Religion and
ethnicity have become
factors that generate
identity conflict. Mutual distrust
between communities and
religious groups has grown so
much that people
place sectarian division over and above the common interest.
around religious affiliation and
ethnic groups became replicated in major towns such as Zonkwa, Kafanchan and
Kachia. Religion and
ethnicity have become
factors that generate
identity conflict. Mutual distrust
between communities and
religious groups has grown so
much that people
place sectarian division over and above the common interest.
Again, the
voices of Christian victims who live with the conflict daily are stifled and
unrepresented. The trauma suffered by Christian women, children, the physically
challenged and the most vulnerable has mostly gone unnoticed.
voices of Christian victims who live with the conflict daily are stifled and
unrepresented. The trauma suffered by Christian women, children, the physically
challenged and the most vulnerable has mostly gone unnoticed.
The
combination of these factors has derailed local and official efforts to end the
conflict both in the short and the long term. As with most violent conflicts in
Nigeria, military deployment in a predominantly Christian territory has become
the first option rather than the last resort. This is done
without committed or
genuine civil engagement.
There are also
poor levels of accountability and increased impunity by
security forces deployed to keep peace in Southern Kaduna. Indigenous
Christian communities accuse security forces of complicity in the
conflict.
combination of these factors has derailed local and official efforts to end the
conflict both in the short and the long term. As with most violent conflicts in
Nigeria, military deployment in a predominantly Christian territory has become
the first option rather than the last resort. This is done
without committed or
genuine civil engagement.
There are also
poor levels of accountability and increased impunity by
security forces deployed to keep peace in Southern Kaduna. Indigenous
Christian communities accuse security forces of complicity in the
conflict.
Languages And Tribes In Southern Kaduna
The Southern Kaduna region represents the
Biblical Tower of Babel due to the existence of numerous tribes and languages within the region.
Biblical Tower of Babel due to the existence of numerous tribes and languages within the region.
The Southern Kaduna region comprises of a total of 65
tribes and languages
with each local government area boasting of more than one except for Jaba Local Government Area which has only
one indigenous tribe
and language.
tribes and languages
with each local government area boasting of more than one except for Jaba Local Government Area which has only
one indigenous tribe
and language.
Jaba local government area is
the base of a tribe known as Jaba, the owner and curator of the Nok culture
where Terracotta head was discovered and believed to have existed around 500
B.C. Ham is the language of the Jabas. The tribe is also found in Kachia local
government area of the state with the same language.
the base of a tribe known as Jaba, the owner and curator of the Nok culture
where Terracotta head was discovered and believed to have existed around 500
B.C. Ham is the language of the Jabas. The tribe is also found in Kachia local
government area of the state with the same language.
In Jama’a local government
council, there exists the tribes of Kagoma, Kafanchan and Kalinko. While Kagoma
speaks Gom language, Funsuam and Kalinko are the languages of Kafanchan and
Kalinko respectively.
council, there exists the tribes of Kagoma, Kafanchan and Kalinko. While Kagoma
speaks Gom language, Funsuam and Kalinko are the languages of Kafanchan and
Kalinko respectively.
Bajju tribe that speaks Ju
language, Ikulu with Akulu language, Kadara tribe with Adara and Jaba with Ham
languages hold sway in Kachia Local Government Council.
language, Ikulu with Akulu language, Kadara tribe with Adara and Jaba with Ham
languages hold sway in Kachia Local Government Council.
Kagarko Local Government
Area is the home of the Koros and Gbaygi’s tribes. The two speaks the language
that coincided with the names of their tribes: but, the Gbaygi’s are still
found in other areas such as central Kaduna senatorial zone.
Area is the home of the Koros and Gbaygi’s tribes. The two speaks the language
that coincided with the names of their tribes: but, the Gbaygi’s are still
found in other areas such as central Kaduna senatorial zone.
Ataka, Kataf, Morwa and
Oegorok (Kagoro) tribes are found in Kaura Local Government Area with different
languages. Ataka speaks Aakat, Kataf speaks Atyap, Morwa with Sholie and
Oegorok with Oeglok language.
Oegorok (Kagoro) tribes are found in Kaura Local Government Area with different
languages. Ataka speaks Aakat, Kataf speaks Atyap, Morwa with Sholie and
Oegorok with Oeglok language.
Ruruma, Kaibi, Kimolo and
Binwara tribes holds forth in Kauru Local Government Council. Each of the
tribes speaks the language that tallied with the names of their tribes.
Binwara tribes holds forth in Kauru Local Government Council. Each of the
tribes speaks the language that tallied with the names of their tribes.
Local Government Areas And
Towns In Southern Kaduna
The
Southern Kaduna region comprises all the eight local government areas of Kaduna
South Senatorial Zone. These local government areas include:
Southern Kaduna region comprises all the eight local government areas of Kaduna
South Senatorial Zone. These local government areas include:
·
Jaba
Jaba
·
Jema’a
Jema’a
·
Kauru
Kauru
·
Kaura
Kaura
·
Zangon
Kataf
Zangon
Kataf
·
Kachia
Kachia
·
Kagarko
Kagarko
·
Sanga
Sanga
The
Southern Kaduna region also covers three local government areas of Kaduna
Central Senatorial District. These local government areas are:
Southern Kaduna region also covers three local government areas of Kaduna
Central Senatorial District. These local government areas are:
·
Kaduna
South
Kaduna
South
·
Kajuru
Kajuru
·
Chikun
Chikun
The
Southern Kaduna region also extends to one local government area in Kaduna
North Senatorial Zone. The local government area is:
Southern Kaduna region also extends to one local government area in Kaduna
North Senatorial Zone. The local government area is:
·
Lere
Lere
Major towns
in the Southern Kaduna region include Kafanchan, Zonkwa and Kachia. Even a s
ignificant part of the city of Kaduna is in located within the Southern Kaduna
region.
in the Southern Kaduna region include Kafanchan, Zonkwa and Kachia. Even a s
ignificant part of the city of Kaduna is in located within the Southern Kaduna
region.
The Southern Kaduna
Peoples Union (SOKAPU)
The Southern Kaduna Peoples
Union, or SOKAPU is the umbrella body of the estimated 5 million natives of the Southern Kaduna region of Kaduna state.
Union, or SOKAPU is the umbrella body of the estimated 5 million natives of the Southern Kaduna region of Kaduna state.
The existence of the organization predates Nigeria’s independence. It
has been at the forefront of the fight for the creation of a state for the
Southern Kaduna people.
has been at the forefront of the fight for the creation of a state for the
Southern Kaduna people.
The organization has also been fighting for the equity and fairness for
the Southern Kaduna people purportedly marginalised by successful Muslim-led
regimes in Kaduna State.
the Southern Kaduna people purportedly marginalised by successful Muslim-led
regimes in Kaduna State.
Barrister Solomon Musa is the current President of the Southern Kaduna
Peoples Union.
Peoples Union.