The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kaduna

  • Operation ‘Kunama 2’ for Kaduna, Kano and Plateau

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has said the military will soon begin exercises, code named Kunama 2, in Southern Kaduna, parts of Kano and Plateau States.

    He spoke with State House correspondents at the end of about six-hour security meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, troops are already on ground to stop the killings in Southern Kaduna. He added that other operations in the Northeast, Southsouth, and Southeast are on course.

    His words: “Our troops are already in Southern Kaduna, we have our special forces operating there with other security agencies and we intend to launch an exercise very soon in Southern Kaduna, to cover some parts of Plateau and Kano States.

    “It is part of our strategy for this year, to continue all the exercises we had before now. We have Crocodile Smile and Python Dance in the Niger Delta, but we will rename the Python Dance for the Southeast this year also.”

    On Sambisa forest, Gen. Buratai said: “We are continuing our operations in that area, Lafiya Dole mandate, and the troops are still moving all over the area.”

  • Still on the Southern Kaduna crisis

    SIR: We are watching with breath taking amazement the level of reported destruction of lives and properties going on in the Southern Kaduna which has claimed about 808 lives while about 57 others suffered life-threatening injuries as at the last count in the hands of some suspected heartless Fulani herdsmen. And more surprising was the body language from the Presidency in which the President has not uttered any word of condemnation on the reported mass killing that can be likened to genocide.

    However, it was the Sultan of Sokoto who has reportedly frowned at the wanton destruction of lives and properties in the area. The respected traditional ruler and head of the Muslim community in Nigeria –Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III has even advised President Mohammed Buhari and Governor Nasir El-Rufai to put an end to the crisis in the area.

    Presidential Spokesperson Femi Adesina was quoted as saying that there is no need for the President to speak on the matter since the Governor, El-Rufai is on top of the matter as the Chief Security officer (CSO) of the state. This is a governor that Rev. Father Paul Jatau has accused of being complacent in the handling of the contentious matter. In fact, the Rev. Father went ahead to allege that it was the refusal of the Southern Kaduna residents to turn their lands into grazing reserves of the Fulani herdsmen that is the bedrock of the crisis.

    About 808 human lives reportedly lost in a particular section of a Federating Unit within the Federal Republic of Nigeria and yet the Presidency has not deemed it fit to utter a single word or condemnation whether it means it or not! We are talking of human lives here and not those of livestock or chickens. And even if such lives belong to other animals other than humans, what does it cost the authorities concerned to condemn  such unwarranted destruction in unmistaken terms before going ahead to investigate the matter with a view to getting to the roots of the matter and put a final step to such ugly occurrences? Since the Sultan and the President of the NSCIA has strongly condemned the destruction and went ahead to advise both the President and the governor on what to do, there is no need to further over flog the matter since the concerned authorities have their own living consciences too.

    Fulani herdsmen again? Their issue has become a recurrent decimal in our National Security discourse and it has even become a national phenomenon. It is either they are involved in human lives and properties destruction or destruction of farmers’ crops kidnapping for ransom and sometimes armed robbery.  We thank God that the Sultan of Sokoto- himself a foremost   Fulani man and scion of Othman Dan Fodio has used several forums to condemn and distance himself from the activities of these rampaging Fulani herdsmen. It was revealed that these culprits are foreigners and not Nigerians. And if indeed they are itinerant / migrant Fulani Herdsmen from foreign lands, should the government at whatever levels continue to watch as they systematically disrupt the peace of our nation or any part thereof? This should be a food for thought for those that are concerned.

    The year 2016 might be a wailing year with a lot of gory tales for the people of Southern Kaduna as their loud cries and agonies were not considered loud enough to attract an appropriate response from those that should be concerned, but they should be rest assured that the Heavens have noted their plight and will intervene on their behalf by moving the hearts of those in authority to render the respective justices due to them and their assailants.

     

    • Gbemiga Olakunle, JP,

    gbemigaolakunle@yahoo.co.uk

  • Kaduna: Understaning the crisis

    The good news is that communities in southern parts of Kaduna State that were recently embroiled in very unfortunate, albeit bloody clashes now enjoy relative peace, safety and security. Deft moves by the Governor, Mallam Nasir el Rufai, community and religious leaders as well as the efforts of security agents have yielded profound results. However, in spite of the best efforts of the governor and millions of peace-loving people of Kaduna to stem the ugly tide of communal clashes in the state, there are glaring pointers to the fact that a few, influential and politically connected persons are bent on reigniting the conflagrations at all costs. Their mission is clear: distract and defocus the El Rufai administration.

    Like most knowledgeable adults in Nigeria are well aware, Kaduna State has its ethno-religious peculiarities. These peculiarities that ordinarily ought to be harnessed as strength have over the years been the state’s albatross of sorts. Interestingly however, the latest round of crises in southern parts of Kaduna State has very little to do with religion or even ethnicity. The crises, as we have since learnt, were ignited by acts of banditry and criminality that were either not nipped in the bud or poorly managed by community and local leaders. Worse still, the downturn in the nation’s economy may well be stretching the tolerance level of the average Nigerian. And this is where crisis profiteers, political jobbers and queer puritans are seeking a window of opportunity to keep Kaduna State in perpetual crisis and possibly make it ungovernable.

    Persons fanning the embers of discord in Kaduna State are cashing in on the aforementioned historical ethno-religious peculiarities in the state and are creating false impression that the recent crises were induced by religious or ethnic differences. It has become compelling and imperative to clarify, once again, that the very unfortunate and extremely condemnable incidents that have occurred were largely as a result of inherited problems that are steeped in the failure of successive past administrations to decisively punish previous grievous acts of impunity and lawlessness. The El Rufai administration has severally explained that since 1980, Kaduna State has had about 12 major ethnic and religious conflicts and each time a crisis occurred, a commission or panel of inquiry to find out what happened and to recommend measures or ways to avoid or stem recurrence, was usually instituted. Curiously however, no sitting government has ever fully implemented the recommendations of any of these panels or commissions. The latest round of crises in some communities is clearly a fall-out of the failure of the previous administrations in the state to decisively tackle security problems when they occurred. It is therefore unfortunate and patently mischievous for a prominent political leader in Kaduna State to suggest in a recent article that “Governor el-Rufai’s personality and brand of politics have not prepared him well to deal with the daunting cumulative legacy in Southern Kaduna State.”  What personality or brand of politics is he speaking of?

    To be clear, Mallam El Rufai understands the sensitive ethno-religious dynamics in Kaduna State and remains resolute about preventing situations like the ones that have unfortunately played out in the southern parts of the state. On assumption of office in May 2015, the governor was quick to put in place a high-level committee under the globally acclaimed Gen. Martin Luther Agwai (rtd), to review the reports of previous panels of inquiries with a view to recommending measures that would help stem recurrences. As expected, the Gen. Agwai Committee made critical observations and far-reaching recommendations. One of the observations made by the committee was that recent flare-ups in some communities in southern parts of Kaduna State were traceable to the 2011 post-election violence. The committee in its report said that a number of Fulani herdsmen lost their cattle around southern parts of the state during the crisis and as a result, continue to carry out sporadic raids in these communities in their supposed bid to avenge the loss of their cattle. In fact, it is not a secret that a former Governor of the State, the late Governor Patrick Yakowa, who had this fact, constituted a team that was going round Fulani communities to preach peace and reconciliation. Following Governor Yakowa’s unfortunate death in an air crash, this outreach was stopped. This is exactly what Governor El Rufai inherited and the General Agwai committee established this fact.

    The truth is that the recommendations of all the committees and commissions of inquiries set up from 1980 to date on communal clashes in Kaduna State were never implemented. This failure of previous administrations to implement the far-reaching recommendations is to blame for the latest flare-ups. Following Governor El Rufai’s dogged insistence, several persons involved in the recent incidents have since been apprehended by security agencies and are now being subjected to the full weight of the law.

    However, the greatest challenge to peace in Kaduna State now is the antics of political jobbers and opportunists who have gone as low as spreading hate speeches; telling communities in Kaduna State to “defend themselves”. This, is of course is an unmistakable call on the people of Kaduna State to procure arms and ammunitions and start killing themselves. This is not just very low but extremely dangerous. This call on the citizenry to take the laws into their own hands totally undermines all on-going efforts to achieve lasting peace in Kaduna State.

    In their haste to malign the Kaduna State Governor and create a fertile ground for their malicious intentions, the politically connected persons stoking the embers of war in Kaduna State have shamelessly resorted to falsehood, particularly quoting Mallam El Rufai out of contest with a view to creating the very wrong impression that the governor may well be taking sides in the conflicts. What will it benefit a governor who is working round the clock to fix the economy and speedily redress the inherited decayed infrastructure in Kaduna State, to have his people fight each other or side any group against another at a time of unfortunate and highly condemnable conflict.

    On the contrary, Governor El Rufai and members of his team are tenaciously restoring order, brotherhood and solidarity in communities in the southern parts of the state where conflicts were recorded. For the umpteenth time, let it be clarified that the recent conflagrations in southern parts of Kaduna State were not induced by either religion or ethnicity. In his bid to accelerate the peace and reconciliation processes, Governor El Rufai during one of his several visits to violence impacted communities said: “Anyone that feels he has been grieved because his relations were killed or has lost anything, he should come out and complain and we will compensate him if that is what it will take but no one should resort to killing because of anything. We appeal to you to be patient and allow authorities to bring justice”.

    Persons who do not wish Kaduna State well have now made the twisting of this olive branch waved by the governor their latest occupation. “Oh! El Rufai is paying Fulani herdsmen money to stop killing!” Well, if only they bothered to seek information, we would have rightly informed them that the Kaduna State government is not paying any money to herdsmen or anyone for that matter to embrace peace and that several aggrieved persons have indeed embraced peace without seeking any form of monetary compensation. Virtually all of them have seen the sincerity and transparency of Governor El Rufai and have embraced peace unconditionally. So, the stories that are making the rounds in both the social and mainstream media about El Rufai paying some Fulani herdsmen is just a figment of the imagination of unrelenting political jobbers and crisis profiteers in league with their paid agents outside the state. Our worry really is the destructive antics of political actors and jingoists as well as queer puritans who are bent on seeing Kaduna State go up in flames. Our passionate appeal to them is to allow our people to continue to leave in peace. We are however confident that ultimately, truth, sincerity and good works will triumph over the evil intentions of proponents of discord in our dear state.

     

    • Sani is Political Adviser to the Governor of Kaduna State.

  • We need 1m policemen for Southern Kaduna – Commissioner

    KADUNA State Commissioner of Police, Agyole Abeh on Thursday said that the command needed about one million policemen to effectively cover every nook and cranny of Southern Kaduna.

    The Police boss, who was commenting on efforts of his command to protect lives and property of people of troubled parts of eight local government areas that make up of Southern Kaduna at the Command’s headquarters maintained that the need for people themselves to cooperate with the police through dialogue remains the surest way to resolving differences.

    According to him, the police are already using 40 patrol vehicles, deployed more men and will soon come up with strategies that will reduce the spate of crime not only in southern Kaduna, but across the state.

    “As I speak to you, the area is very calm and there is no any record of any incident after the unfortunate  major incident in Goska. We have deployed enough of our men on ground to ensure that they curb any acts of lawlessness.

    “Like I always say, if you can bring the whole police in Nigeria, we cannot achieve the desired result without the people. All the people themselves, must prepared to embrace peace and must accommodate one another.

    As regarding illegal roadblocks mounted by some youths aimed to attack unsuspecting passengers plying the trouble spots, Abeh admitted that, “so far “we have been dismantling them each time there is any.”

    “We have the department of security service and we are working in conjunction with the military intelligence. Just yesterday, I ordered the police to dismantled illegal gathering and check point around Kagoro”, said the commissioner.

    On whether there has been any arrest and prosecution in connection with the Southern Kaduna crisis, he said, “We have number of people arrested and we are going to arrest the rest because we have evidences. Its just that we are following them gradually. We have been charging a lot of suspected criminals to courts.

    “We also intend to within next few weeks, come up with various strategies to curb some menace like drug addiction among youths which has become a source of concerned. That is why we said community policing remains the only option while parents also need to bring up their children in godly way”.

    He however disagreed with number of death reported in some media over the Southern Kaduna crisis, saying the figure was exaggerated, though he couldn’t give any figure.

  • Southern Kaduna’s endangered species

    Sir: the level of ethno-religious intolerance in the polity is quite worrisome. We pride ourselves as a nation with impressive number of religious men and women who have won global acclamation, yet same can hardly be felt in our social interactions. Sadly, the younger generation are fast catching up with this culture of needless antagonism of persons with different ideals, beliefs, culture and norms. This is regularly on display on different social media platforms where name calling is now the order of the day.

    With the alarming spate of killings in Southern Kaduna, which could have called for a declaration of a state of emergency in other climes, it is evident that lives do not count for anything in this part of the world. Hence, it is understandable that the Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina can declare that President Buhari must not speak on everything happening in the country.

    Of note, when an important member of our nation dies, we have condolence messages from the Presidency, but when hundreds of peasants are massacred, we find excuses. Admittedly, President Buhari must not speak on everything. We do not really expect some empty threats, or vain promises. But a proactive government would take necessary actions to curb this menace promptly before the tribal and religious differences put a chasm among its citizenry.

    The Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El Rufai declared that the attackers are foreign Fulani herdsmen, who were avenging past attacks on them and their livestock. However, concerned Nigerians have rightly expressed their disappointments with the state and federal governments’ manner of handling this seemingly endless bloodshed, precisely due to the ethno-religious undertone.

    Remarkably, the United Nations (UN) had earlier this year reiterated the urgency for concerted efforts to curb the illegal trade in wildlife products that are threatening the planet’s biodiversity. This is in conformity with the principles governing wildlife management which aims at protecting wildlife species such as: elephants, rhinos, turtles, whales, lions amongst others hunted, killed and smuggled for their meat, fur, skin, and tusks. The level of poverty in the country had made many to now resort to the animals once regarded as prohibited for daily meals and trade for survival. Regardless, there can be no justification for cheating nature. Likewise, the despicable level of ethno-religious intolerance has made many become preys to their fellow humans.

    Hence, in an effort to take stern action to protect wildlife resources and for sustainability of the planet and species that are under threat for future generation, President Muhammadu Buhari had recently signed the Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Amendment Act 2016 into law to address the cases of illegal hunting and trafficking of wildlife and to bring the penalty provisions in line with economic realities.

    Of note, it is important to appreciate that the average Nigerian is endangered due to inability to access the basic necessities of life. Precisely, residents of Southern Kaduna have become endangered species requiring succour lest they be devoured by their adversaries.  The least of our worries should ordinarily be security as we bid farewell to 2016 and the accompanying bitter recession, but that has recently become our top priority as evident in the numerous ethno-religious crisis and upsurge of crime in our polity. It is expected that urgent measures would be taken to curb the killings in Southern Kaduna since some persons now pride themselves as having a right to deprive others of their right to life without any legal consequences.

    Michael O. Ogunjobi,

    Lagos

  • Kaduna pilgrims board to begin Hajj registration tomorrow 

    The Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has said it will tomorrow begin the registration of intending pilgrims for this year’s Hajj to Saudi Arabia in the 23 local government areas.

    The intending pilgrims are to deposit a minimum of N800,000 and a maximum of N1.2 million, pending the formal announcement of the Hajj fare by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

    A statement at the weekend by the board’s spokesman Yunusa Muhammad Abdullahi advised intending pilgrims to present themselves physically during the registration because registration by proxy would not be allowed.

    The statement quoted the board’s Overseer, Imam Hussaini Sulaiman Tsoho Ikara, as warning that intending female pilgrims would only be registered when they area accompanied by male guardians (Mahram) in line with Saudi Arabian government’s regulations.

    The statement added: “Imam Hussaini, who addressed the committees set up for the registration of the intending pilgrims on the premises of the board, warned them to adhere strictly to the registration guidelines.”

  • Bloody Christmas: 10 killed in fresh attack in Kaduna

    Bloody Christmas: 10 killed in fresh attack in Kaduna

    IN spite of 24 hours curfew imposed on three Kaduna State Local Government Areas of Jema’a, Kaura and Zango Kataf for security reasons, it was a bloody Christmas eve as Goska village in Kaninkon Chiefdom of Jema’a in Kaduna State was attacked on Saturday night , leaving 10 persons dead and several houses razed.
    Police Public Relations Officer, Kaduna Police Command, ASP Aliyu Usman confirmed the attack, but said there was no casualty. He described it as ”attempted attack” on the community.
    Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has however condemned the attack, describing it as inhumane and handiwork of forces of darkness.
    El-Rufai in a strong-worded statement empathised with the families that lost their loved ones and charged security agencies to redouble their efforts.
    He said the attackers will not know peace as they will be chased to their hideouts and brought to justice.
    A local in Goska Bulus James told The Nation that, “the Fulani herdsmen had earlier informed the community that they will launch an attack on it. We didn’t take it seriously until when they came at about 5pm on Saturday. They encircled the village and started shooting anybody at sight.
    According to him, “that shooting continued through the night. They killed one of the daughters of two term member of Kaduna State House of Assembly and a one time Chairman of Jema’a local government, Gideon Yakubu Morik and burnt his house and several other houses. Only a very few houses are left. As I speak with you, we can still hear the gunshot.
    “It was very pathetic. It was a serious attack. While that was ongoing, they released their cattle to feed on beans yet to be harvested. We tried to call security people around who were outskirt of the village but we discovered that they don’t have bullets. So, we are only in the hand of God”, the source said.

  • Christmas: More troops, operatives deployed to Kafanchan, others

    Ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations, more troops have been deployed to troubled areas of Kaduna State.

    The 24-hour curfew imposed in the three Local Government Areas of Jema’a, Kaura and Zangon Kataf has however been relaxed to 12 hours.

    Spokesman to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Mr. Samuel Aruwan in a statement said the development was after credible intelligence at the disposal of security agencies suggests a possible threat to peace and urgent need to nip it in the bud and the earlier imposition of 24-hour curfew in three local government areas of Jema’a, Kaura and Zangon Kataf.

    According to Aruwan, “In order to strengthen security in Southern Kaduna and the state at large, more troops and operatives comprising the Nigerian Army,DSS,and other intelligence personnel/investigators have been deployed to ensure thesecurity of citizenry and maintenance of law and order. The Nigerian Police has also deployed various units of Mobile Police, Counter TerrorismUnits (CTU) as well as many units of both conventional and undercover police to adequately provide security to the people.

    “You may recall that the Governor had met Mr. President regarding the security situation in the areas and the intelligence reports at the disposal of security agencies.”

    “Similarly, the 24-hour curfew imposed in three local government areas (Jema’a, Kaura and Zangon Kataf) will be relaxed to 12 hours from 6am to 6am with effect from 25th and 26th of December, 2016. However, the 24-hour curfew in the LGAs will continue on the 27th December 2016.

    “Citizens throughout the state can contact security agencies via the following emergency numbers: 0703-967-5856,  0807-539-1105.

    “You may contact the Area Commanders through the following numbers also:
    Kaduna Central Senatorial District: 0803-385-0043 or 0803-433-1872

    ” Kaduna North Senatorial District: Zaria:  0803-317-4270 and 0806-128-6619. Kaduna South Senatorial District: Kafanchan: 0813-262-0315 and 0803-632-9263“, he said.

  • Minister condemns Taraba, Kaduna, Zamfara killings

    THE Minister of Interior, Retired Lt.-Gen. A b d u l r a h m a n Dambazau has condemned the “senseless killing” of innocent Nigerians in Taraba, Kaduna and Zamfara states with a call on security agencies to fish out the perpetrators. This is contained in a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the Minister, Mr Ehisienmen Osaigbovo on Thursday in Abuja.

    The minister said that the action of some senseless enemies of peace was most regrettable at a time President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration is putting measures in place to revamp the nation’s economy. He said that the Federal Government was working hard to build a vibrant and united country where every individual would realise his potentials, irrespective of tribe, religion nor political affiliations. Dambazau condoled with the government and people of the three affected states over what he described as irresponsible, senseless and barbaric acts of some criminally minded persons.

    He assured that government will not rest in its efforts at addressing all forms of criminality throughout the country. He reiterated government’s determination to enforce the full weight of the law on any one found culpable in these attacks and other acts of criminality in the country.

    The minister also directed the Inspector General of Police to mobilise more security personnel to the affected areas to ensure peace within the yuletide and beyond and to deal decisively with any criminally minded element. He also mandated the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to ensure strict protection of the nation’s critical assets and infrastructure during and after the yuletide. Accordings to reports, there had been reported killings of innocent Nigerians in the affected states as a result of clashes between farmers and herdsmen .

  • El-Rufai’s convoy attack: Governor cautions against reprisal

    El-Rufai’s convoy attack: Governor cautions against reprisal

    … 24-hour curfew imposed on 3 Kaduna LGAs

    Aftermath of the Tuesday’s  attack on Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai’s convoy by youths in Southern part of Kaduna State, the Governor has appealed to citizens not to retaliate.

    The Governor and his entourage were pelted with stones and some of the vehicles broken after addressing some demonstrators immediately after he chaired Kaduna State Security Council meeting in the area.

    The official residence of the local government chairman, Dr. Bege Katuka was also burnt.

    The governor’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan in a statement issued in Kaduna on Wednesday described the unfortunate incident as part of the burden of leadership. He added that the Governor is of the view that there must be no reaction to the incident other than a continued commitment to restore peace and harmony.

    Meanwhile,  a 24-hour curfew has been imposed on three local government areas of Zangon-Kataf, Kaura and Jema’a. The Kaduna State Security Council said it took the step based on credible intelligence about risks to lives and property in the affected areas.

    Aruwan statement quoted the Governor El-Rufai as saying that, “in the name of God, I am begging you. No one should take the law into his or her hand over what happened in Kafanchan. Although it is unfortunate, but we must rise above induced prejudice and hatred. We must defeat hate with patience, love and dedication to duty and not eye for an eye.

    “It is also a burden of leadership and we will, by the special grace of God, overcome these forces of darkness who are dividing our citizens using religion, ethnicity and politics. I commend the high sense of professionalism exhibited by security personnel.

    “I listened to three of the women who led the protesters as they asked me questions. I answered them and even invited them to a larger meeting, but they went on rampage and burnt the residence of the local government chairman.

    “The government of Kaduna State and the Security Council sympathize with the chairman of Jema’a local government, Dr.Bege Katuka and his family over the unfortunate incident that led to the burning of their home. Our prayers and support go with them,” the Governor said.

    On the curfew, Aruwan said, the governor will update the people of the state on the steps being taken to improve security in the state in a state-wide live radio interview on Wednesday night, from 8pm to 10 pm.

    He also disclosed that the Kaduna State Security Council also reaffirmed the ban on all processions and unlawful assembly throughout the state.

    The statement said that security agencies have also been empowered to arrest and prosecute any individual or groups that violate these orders.

    “Furthermore, the Security Council urged security operatives to ensure best practices in enforcing the directives.

    “The meeting, which was chaired by Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, had the following members of the Council in attendance: The Deputy Governor, Arc. Barnabas Yusuf Bala, Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Agyole Abeh,, Director DSS, Mohammed Tijjani Wakili,, Brig. Gen. I. Isa, Commander, 1 Division Garrison, Nigerian Army, Rear Admiral T. T. Dakwat, Commandant Nigerian Navy School of Armament, Kachia and AVM Bello Garba, Base Commander, Nigerian Air Force, Kaduna,” the governors statement read.