Sowore, SOKAPU  Blast El-Rufai Over Continued Detention Of Luka BinIyat

Irked by the prolong detention of its Spokesperson, Mr. Luka Biniyat who is also a journalist, the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) has called on Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai to order unconditionally release of the journalist.The group called on the Kaduna state government to allow the court to do its work independently and stop the persecution of its member.

The National  President of the union , Hon. Jonathan Ashake disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja during a press conference organised by SOKAPU and civil society organizations over the detention and persecution of the journalist.

He said  Luka was arrested and charged for cyberstalking at a magistrate court and has remained  in detention since then despite the fact that  the court does not have jurisdiction over the matter.

According to him ” It has become unavoidable to come here and address you on the continuous persecution of one of us, a journalist and the PRO of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU), Mr Luka Biniyat

” As most of you are already aware that for over six years running, communities in Southern Kaduna have incessantly come under severe attacks by Fulani killer Herdsmen.

”  These attackers usually invade our vulnerable and defenseless Communities at odd hours unprovoked, where they mercilessly massacre the hapless villagers (mostly women and children being the greatest casualty), they maim, rape our women, destroy our properties, food stores and crops, abduct many more people into the bushes and often time occupy our lands with the government of the day doing nothing about it with no effort to bring perpetrators to justice.

” These atrocious and barbaric attacks on our peaceful Communities which oftentimes are of genocidal scale have become the norm where presently we have over 108 identified Communities have been displaced and living in dehumanizing conditions as internally displaced persons without food or any social amenities like schools for the children and health care facilities.

” It is these kind of atrocities regularly meted out on our people that comrade Luka Binniyat, a journalist and true son of Southern Kaduna has refused to be silent about but committed himself to relentlessly expose them against the apparent complicit posture of the government authorities in Kaduna state which has continued to clamp down on press freedom and free speech as opposed to provisions of our National Constitution.

” We are hereby calling on the government authorities in Kaduna that are responsible for his continuous detention without trial to allow the courts to do their work and stop the persecution.
We also call the attention of all media practitioners, the civil society and the international Community to be on notice that free speech and the press are under siege in Kaduna state” .

Also speaking at the event a humani rights activist , Omoyele Sowore who was at the event in solidarity called on International community and Committee on Protection of Journalists  ( CPJ  )  to sanction and declare Mallam Nasir El-Rufai as major violator of media freedom around the world.

The activist said there iwas no end in sight for attack on journalists and violation of press freedom until individuals are being held accountable to their atrocities and ignoble behaviour toward journalists.

According to Sowore ” t is known that the Governor of Kaduna State Nasiir El-Rufai is one of the most intolerant governors when it comes to free speech in Nigeria. .

” It is important not just to call on International community to sanction Nigeria but in particular I want to call for sanction of Mr. El-rufai as violator of free speech.

” I know for the fact that  El-Rufai cannot travel to too many decent countries around the world anymore.  I am aware he has been banned from entry United States.  But I think it is time is banned from entry any country around the world that have respect for fundamental rights particularly press freedom.

” I want to call on Committee for Protection of Journalists  ( CPJ ) to declare Mr. El-Rufai one of the major violators of media freedom around the world”