'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.

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