• 32 persons died –Police

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja and Sola Ojo Kaduna

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has ordered further security reinforcements in Kaduna State following freshof communal clashes that resulted in the loss of lives earlier in the week in Kajuru, Kajuru Local Government Area of the State.

Kaduna Police command confirmed, yesterday that 32 persons, mostly women and children were killed in the fresh clashes between groups of youth and herdsmen in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Acting President, Laolu Akande, in a statement, said Osinbajo, while condemning the act of violence in strong terms, noted that the security challenges in Southern Kaduna, which has led to needless deaths, was a source of concern for the Federal Government and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians.

Noting previous and ongoing efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to confront the situation, he assured that no effort would be spared in identifying and bringing  perpetrators of these dastardly acts against innocent Nigerians to justice no matter how long or hard it may take.

According to Osinbajo, Nigerians in the area and everywhere in the country have a right to live in peace.

“We will not relent and won’t be deterred in our pursuit of securing the lives and property of all Nigerians everywhere and in every part of this nation. In the end, we will not only secure the peace all around, but we shall enforce justice for the victims and all of those that are affected,” he declared.

He also commiserated with families of the victims, the government and people of Kaduna State, and wished the injured victims speedy recovery.

He also commended the prompt response and efforts of the state government and those of the security agencies which contained the situation and restored the peace.

According to CP Agyole Abeh, problem started when some youths claimed that they saw a Fulani with a bag which they alleged contained military camouflage.

“They saw a young grazing herder and attacked him. But while that was ongoing, his father came in to rescue his son and was subsequently assaulted but later died in a hospital where he was rushed to.

“We must not assume or conclude that because in recent past, in some communities of the state where attacks had taken place by suspected Fulani herdsmen and therefore for every violent attack, the aggressors must be Fulani herdsmen. I do believe that in this particular incident, that assertion is true.