SUMMARY

Atyap, also known as Kataf, are an ethic group that occupies the Zango Kataf Local Government Area in Kaduna state in central Nigeria. Atyap claims to be the first settlers of the Zango Kataf area, a claim that is shared by other ethnic groups, most notably the Hausa. The history of Atyap is tainted by the artificial division of power that followed in the wake of the British colonization. Prior to the British entanglement Atyap were involved in a power struggle with Fulani Moslem jihadist which tried to extend the influence of Islam in Nigeria. Atyap being predominantly Christian were a natural enemy of these Islamist jihadists.

Given Atyap resistance to Islam they became involved with the Christian missionaries, further dividing the different ethnicities in the same region on the basis of religion. The remnants of the superimposed power structures put in place by the British colonizers were an indirect cause of the violence that plagued the region of Zango Kataf in the early nineties. The British colonizers exercised their power by delegating responsibilities to local chiefs. This mode of operating led to several problematic power relations in the complex tribal system of power that had been in place up until the arrival of the British. In the case of Atyap they were subject to the rule of the Emir of Zaria, a neighbouring Moslem village. This division of power was seen as a great injustice by the Atyap people, yet the structure did not vanish after the British left. While Atyap were given a greater amount of autonomy from the Emir of Zaria, they were still under the formal rule of Zaria.

Atyap have since their involvement in communal clashes been granted a chiefdom of their own in 1996, and in 2007 it was upgraded to a first class chiefdom. The situation has since the establishment of the Atyap chiefdom deescalated, there has not been any major disturbances of the peace.

Atyap have been involved in the non-state category of UCDP-organised violence.