Following the lingering Southern Kaduna killings, the National Assembly caucus in the House of Representatives led by the Minority Whip of the house, Gideon Gwani says it has uncovered plot by armed militia groups attack Southern Kaduna after the Sallah break.
The lawmakers, who are from Southern Kaduna, gave the revelation in Abuja while urging the Federal and the Kaduna State Governments to do more and put an end to Southern Kaduna killings of Southern Kaduna people by armed militia groups
The lawmakers also called on the people of the area to be vigilant and law-abiding regardless of any provocation.
“As representatives of the people of Southern Kaduna, we state unequivocally that the life of every citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, regardless of ethnic, religious or ideological differences must be protected as required under Section 14(2)(b) CFRN 1999(as amended).
“We condemn the armed attacks and killings of the people of Southern Kaduna by the armed militia groups or any group whatsoever no matter their motive and we condemn the justification of any attacks on our people or any reprisal attack.
“The People of Southern Kaduna should be vigilant and law abiding and avoid taking laws into their hands, regardless of any provocation.
“They should cooperate with law enforcement officers and report these miscreants when necessary.
“We call for the arrest, investigation, prosecution and conviction where necessary of these attackers so that they can desist from unleashing mayhem on the people of Southern Kaduna,” he noted.
Other lawmakers present at the briefing include: Shehu Nicholas Garba (Jema’a/Sanga); Mukhtar Chawai Zakari (Kauru); Garba Salah Zock (Kachia/Kagarko) and Akos Gwamna Magaji (Zango Kataf/Jaba)
Recently, a Pro-Democracy and Human Rights group, Concerned Nigerians had called for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari over his government’s failure to secure lives and property of the people of Southern Kaduna and other Nigerians, describing Southern Kaduna killings as unbearable.
The group also asked the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai to also quit his position if he cannot solve the Southern Kaduna killings.
The group’s position was contained in a press statement issued by Convener, Deji Adeyanju who described as shocking the continued attacks, killings and maiming of Southern Kaduna people by suspected herdsmen without any meaningful intervention from both the Federal and State governments.
The Army had described the Southern Kaduna killings as many-sided attacks, adding that it was working on improving response time across difficult terrain, increasing the number of troops in the area and is expecting support from the Air Force.
The Commander of Operation Safe Haven, Major-General CC Okonkwo, who stated this while addressing a meeting of senior security officials on Tuesday, with Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna State on the security situation in Southern Kaduna, said security officials “confirmed that a cycle of attacks and reprisals was compounding criminal activities in the area and causing needless loss of lives and appealed to all sides to embrace peace.”
Okonkwo told the meeting that he had received a deployment of Special Forces, while the Chief of Defence Staff is also sending more troops to reinforce those in the area, to stop the communities from attacking each other, and to create the climate for peace talks.
In a remark, Governor El-Rufai said he came to the meeting “with a heavy heart, saddened by the needless pain several of our communities are enduring in the cycle of violence that is recurring in parts of our state.
“Our task, as always, is to find means of containing the violence and ending the bloodshed. “Today, we want to hear from you the leaders of the security agencies deployed in the area what further measures can be taken to end the agony.
“On our part, we continue to support the efforts of the security agencies as best as we can, he said.”
Governor Rufai had earlier said that insecurity in the state was being perpetrated by criminal elements who had been killing, kidnapping people, and rustling cattle in the entire North-west region.
“These criminals attack people, irrespective of their religion or ethnicity and they have been perpetrating their reign of terror in Giwa, Birnin Gwari, and parts of Igabi Local Government Area.’’
