Southern Kaduna: Zangon Kataf, Kaura on the brink

Manchok Plains of Kaura, Kaduna-Nigeria

By Dangwa Danjuma,

Kaduna

Seven communities in Kaura and Zangon Kataf local government areas of Kaduna State are now at risk of deforestation should the proposed Access Quaint solar and Vicampro projects take root.

In a dramatic twist last week, Dr. Zwahu Bonat of the Kaduna State University and a native of the communities where the proposed solar power project and potato processing facility are cited, was briefly detained by the Kaduna State Police Command for his stand on the matter.

Bonat, was released shortly after members of the community marched to the Police Headquarters in solidarity with their kinsman. On the solar power generation project, spokesman of the community, Dr. David Duniya Adam told our correspondent that "contrary to the popular mischief making rounds, our communities have no problems with the siting of the investment. We are only asking that the investment be positioned uphill away from the people's arable land the only source of their livelihoods".

On the potatoes processing facility, Adam said: "Our men, women and youths are already willing to produce potatoes to feed the Vicampro processing factory, what we are however against is any attempt to confiscate our lands under any guise."

Cubinks learnt that Bonat was arrested on trump up charges by the Kaduna State Government, that he allegedly destroyed properties belonging to Messers Access Quaint Nigeria Limited and Vicampro Farms Nigeria Limited. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a member of the affected community revealed that "there were threats by Access Quaint, Vicampro and the office of the Governor to silence the community for vested interest."

When our correspondent visited the Command, for confirmation, Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Mukhtar Aliyu was unavoidably absent.

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