…Senate sets up probe panel
By Job Osazuwa and From Fred Itua, Abuja
Kaduna State governor, Nasir el-Rufai, disclosed yesterday, that Police have arrested some people behind attacks in Southern Kaduna.
The governor said this when he visited the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Agyle Abeh in his office, yesterday.
Last week, Buhari President Muhammadu Buhari ordered security agencies to fish out the masterminds and gave specific instructions on decisive measures aimed at ending the recurring violence in Southern Kaduna.
Acting on the president’s directive, Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, visited the area last weekend, between Saturday and Sunday, to assess the situation first hand.
Clashes between Fulani herdsmen and residents of the area have left hundreds of people dead.
The governor vowed that his administration will “do everything possible to ensure that all those involved in the attack would be fished out and dealt with in compliance with the law.
El-Rufai emphasised that his administration will not overlook any form criminality and lawlessness in the state.
Parading some of the suspects before the governor, Abeh said they were arrested for various offences, ranging from involvement in Southern Kaduna violence to armed robbery and kidnapping.
The governor also interacted with the suspects; with a view to know their involvement for the crimes which they were accused of.
Southern Kaduna has been attacked about 41 times with the most recent attacks occurred on December 24 and 25, 2016 in Goska, Kaninkon Kingdom, also in Jema’a council area despite a 24-hour curfew imposed on the local government and two others – Zango – Kataf and Kaura.
Six persons were feared dead in that attack, allegedly carried out by Fulani herdsmen, in retaliation for an earlier one on its people.
Meanwhile, Senate, has set up a panel to incestigate attacks and killings in Southern Kaduna.
The chamber is, however, yet to announce the membership of the probe panel.
Senate’s resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Danjuma La’ah, who represents Southern Kaduna senatorial district in the chamber.
Senate noted that since 2011, various communities in Southern Kaduna have been consistently attacked by herdsmen, resulting in deaths, injuries, loss of properties and displacement of the communities.
La’ah said since the December 23, 2016, Ambam, Gaska, Dangoma, Tsonje, Pasankori, Gidan Waya and Farin Gada of Iama’a and Kaura Local Government Area have been under serious attack by the herdsmen, resulting in several deaths, injuries, as well as wanton destruction of properties worth billions of naira.
Following a recommendation by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu that the motion should not be debated so as to avoid bad blood, additional contributions were not accommodated.
Saraki had, in his earlier remarks on the crisis, condemned “in totality, the depravity being exhibited on the streets of Kafanchan. This Senate will not pay lip service to it neither will it sit idly by and watch innocent Nigerians being slaughtered on the basis of their religion, ethnic group or political persuasion. No, we will not stand aloof.
“Let me therefore; use this opportunity to call on the leadership in the state to use its authority and constitutional mandate to bring to immediate halt the growing orgy of violence that has enveloped Southern Kaduna. This new theatre of conflict is one too many and must be nipped in the bud.
“We will ensure a thorough investigation is carried out to unravel the issues and advise government appropriately on the matter in order to ensure that all those found culpable are severely dealt with irrespective of who may be behind them.
“This will ensure there is no repeat of this madness and assure the people of Kaduna that injustice and impunity will not be allowed to triumph over our collective will to maintain our national unity and coherence.”
