GovernorNasiru El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Saturday pleaded with the Fulani community to shun the temptation of engaging in reprisal attacks following the killing of 66 of their population in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.
The governor, at a meeting with stakeholders in Kajuru, wondered why killing had become incessant in Iri axis, including Kuturo, Unguwar Barde, Maro gida among other areas in the local government.
“I know it’s the Fulanis that are most affected in this crisis as over a hundred people have been killed, but as Muslims, we have been advised to forgive, to be patient as God avenges every evil,” he said.
“You must not take the law into your hands by killing anybody as you are likely to harm innocent people. Allow the security to do their work please.”
The governor alleged that some elders in the communities were responsible for the killings having provided weapons to the youths who carried out the attacks.
” I am always disheartened each time I visit Kajuru and sincerely am tired of this situation, because the elders know those involved in the killings and have refused to fish them out.
“Maybe when government and the security agencies withdraw support from your communities, you will know our worth and do the needful.
“I have also asked the Council Chairman not to bail any leader who will be arrested in connection with the menace. Nobody is above the law, hence, culprits must be prosecuted, if guilty”, El-Rufa’i stressed.
The governor warned youths to stop the unnecessary killings in the area, and declared that anyone of them caught would also face the death penalty.
El-Rufa’i said the recurring killings in the local government has stunted its growth, noting that” no community develops without peace; all developmental projects are meant for the youths as they are beneficiaries in the long run.”
He condoled with families whose relatives were killed during the attack and promised to render help to victims whose houses were burnt.
Earlier, the Council Chairman, Mr. Cafra Caino, said miscreants in the communities have refused to allow peace to reign, adding that all peace loving people must work to expose the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
“We have given bikes to village heads to help us manage the security issues. We must not allow them divide us along religious and ethnic sentiments. We therefore urge all leaders to pinpoint the culprits”.
Also speaking, the Chief Imam of Adara kingdom, Nuhu Sha’aban who is also a Fulani leader said majority of those killed were women and children less than one year old.
“We the Fulani have lived in this forest for over 41 years but the youths keep ambushing and killing us. Some of us were slaughtered and others burnt and thrown into ditches”, Sha’aban said.
The Imam asked the Commissioner of Police to transfer most of the policemen in the area, whom he claimed were mostly indigenes of the communities who have been at their duty posts for over 10 years.
He however appreciated the new Divisional Police Officer recently deployed to the area and the military authorities for their efforts at ensuring security in the area.
