Skip to main content

'Terrorists are all over, not only Southern Kaduna'

-Governor Nasir el-Rufai

el-Rufai addressing Journalists in Hausa after a security meeting on Southern Kaduna

By DANGWA DANJUMA

Governor Ahmed Nasir el-Rufai has admitted that terrorists are everywhere in Kaduna state, not only in the troubled Southern Kaduna, disclosing that miscreants have taken to the social media space to promote what he called disturbing and further aggravating the worsening situation situation with religious and ethnic colouration.

Speaking to newsmen in Hausa, after a meeting with security officials, el-Rufai said that miscreants from Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and outside Nigeria are trying to insinuate that the Southern Kaduna killings is ethnic and religious even going as far as asking people to take the law into their hands. While maintaining that these people would be brought to book, he tasked traditional leaders, religious leaders and political office holders in the state to speak the truth about the happenings as failing to do so would make the government take drastic action on them.

Governor el-Rufai who stated that the terorrists have denied farmers access to their farmlands in Giwa, Birnin Gwari, Igabi and Chikun local governments and the northern parts of the state and not just Southern Kaduna, also revealed that the meeting with security officials was to hear what is being done by security agencies in the state to deal with the challenge; other measures that need to be in place to ensure that farmers are able to work their farms in Giwa, Igabi, Chikun and also restore the peace and tranquility to Southern Kaduna. 

He assured that the Kaduna State Peace Commission is on ground working around peace building with the communities, adding that it would be difficult to make any headway, if the people in the area fail to embrace peace because security agents cannot be everywhere at all times. 

                        Watch the video of el-Rufai speaking to newsmen in Hausa

Earlier the Senator representing the Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, Chief Danjuma Tella La'ah expressed dissatisfaction with the way and manner the governor is handling the security crisis: "I blame the happenings in the state on the governor, who has refused to put the necessary measures in place to curtail the security situation, rather  he is always claiming not to know what is happening in Southern Kaduna. People should not be punished for not voting the governor as their popular candidate in the 2019 elections."
On his part, the leader of Southern Kaduna People's Union (SOKAPU), Honourable Jonathan Asake, described the Southern Kaduna wanton killings as an agenda against his people, calling on the federal government to intervene urgently.

In an exclusive interview with Cubinks News, Asake regretted that "despite the capacity and effective mechanisms to assess the situation in Southern Kaduna, government authorities have been economical with the truth about insecurity in Southern Kaduna. The area is under siege. That Fulani militia and Kataf youths are now involved in reprisal attacks, is an unconvincing narrative, to the events forcing women and children mostly vulnerable to be killed in the unabated attacks on defenceless homes and communities akin to invasion.

"The government and officials are refusing to come clean and stand for humanity. Instead of managing diversity, the Governor of Kaduna has decided to capitalize on fault lines to divide the people further. To me there is a geneocide ongoing in Southern Kaduna which is being fueled by a conspiracy to displace the people and occupy our lands."

A former Senator and Civil Rights Activist, himself an indigene of the state, Comrade Shehu Sani, while reacting to the appalling security situation tweeted thus: "when bandits kill in Zamfara, it is condemned; when bandits kill in Southern Kaduna, it is explained".


The merciless killings being witnessed in Zangon Kataf, Kauru, Kaura, Jema'a and Kajuru have rendered women and children homeless. Livelihoods have been destroyed amidst unabated banditry. Major General Chukwuemeka Okonkwo who heads the Operation Safe Haven, a joint task force working in Southern Kaduna and Plateau state, described banditry and cattle rustling activities in the area as overwhelming.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Malaria: In solidarity with Under-5s

A cross section of children Ward DANGWA DANJUMA R enewed campaign to eradicate malaria as part of activities to commemorate the World Malaria Day 2022, led by Centre for Media Advocacy for Mother and Child (CAMAC)  has kicked off in Kaduna. The campaign which is part of the NGOs "Malaria Eradication Campaign 2022" with the theme: "Eliminating Malaria through Community Engagement", this year, is themed: “Harness Innovation to Reduce the Malaria Disease Burden and Save Lives” The World Malaria Day is celebrated every 25th of April to bring greater awareness to the global fight and recognise the existence of malaria across the globe. This year's project is being supported by Newsweb Express an online news platform in collaboration with Civil Society for Malaria Elimination (CS4ME) a global network uniting civil society organizations and communities to achieve malaria elimination. People are more prone to malaria in the rainy weather and it is timely when communitie...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kaduna IDPs cry out over Deplorable Conditions

By DANGWA DANJUMA L ack of basic education, sanitation, healthcare facilities and access to portable water supply have hit Gwagwada, a host community camping over 300 households displaced from fifteen villages in Chikun Local Council of the state. Speaking at the flag off of relief materials distribution for the internally displaced persons (IDPs), the Village Head of Gadani, Mr Bitrus Tsauri disclosed: “Since they arrived, the wells which have been the sure source of water for several households in the community have dried up; the solar powered borehole is only providing drips of water necessitating most residents to seek drinking water from streams. Our two public primary schools and healthcare facility are currently inadequate and may be unsafe, especially with the coronavirus pandemic that Kaduna state is still counting cases”. He confirmed that those who can farm, have been provided land to start over again; there is still the worry however, for those who are unable to farm due t...
1 comment
Read more

'Development Partners, a blessing to my Community' - District Head

His Highness, Mr Haruna Kuye (3rd left, middle roll) flanked by the visitors and village heads T he District Head of Gidan Zaki, His Highness, Mr Haruna Kuye  has given kudos to members of the civil society, for positively touching the lives of his people, through frequent capacity building  in governance processes, thereby empowering his community in the area of tracking and monitoring government projects. "Work began sometime ago in my community and no one had information on the details of the project. I mobilized and led a small team to engage and inquire from the client and contractor the details of the project. Now we know the kilometers of the road to be constructed. I am grateful to participate in Open Government Partnership with regard to Local Government Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability engagements; without which we would not have had any idea by now on the ongoing governance reforms in Kaduna State.", he disclosed. He st...
Post a Comment
Read more

TRIBUTE: Dr Bala Takaya 1930 - 2018

  Bala John Takaya (2nd Left) at a function recently By Nasiru Jagaba Again, with rude shock, death has come upon us in the early hours of Sunday, 27th May, 2018. It is with deepest regret that the Middle Belt Youth Wing of Middle Belt Forum mourns the death of our President, Father, Mentor, and a tireless advocate of equity, fairness and justice, Dr Bala John Takaya, the President of Middle Belt Forum has silently closed the door of life and departed from us, never to return.  68 years old Takaya, an unparalleled University Senior Lecturer, a distinct politician who served as the  Secretary to State Government of the old Gongola State, a member of the 1987 Political Bureau. On the fight to restore democratic system of governance, he worked hand in hand with Chief Solomon Lar. Also, in 1999 he was the governorship candidate of the All People’s Party, APP later ANPP.  He is much esteemed in the community of Middle Belt and generally recognized as on...
Post a Comment
Read more