The Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, at the weekend met Southern Kaduna traditional rulers and heads of security agencies as part of efforts to find a lasting solution to the recurring violence in that area of the state.

Samuel Aruwan, Spokesperson to the governor, said in a statement issued on Monday that the meeting was held at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna. He said it had in attendance Chairmen of Interim Management Committees of the affected local government areas, the Area Commander of Nigerian Police, Kafanchan Area Command, all Divisional Police Officers, Traditional Rulers and Ardos of Fulani communities.

At the meeting, El-Rufai expressed displeasure over the spate of killings in the region, stating that government will not allow people to be taking the law into their hands and killing innocent citizens.

The meeting was a frank discussion between the aggrieved ethnic groups in an attempt to find lasting solutions to the security challenges in the region. Malam El-Rufai said the recent attacks in Godogodo axis would not be condoned. He directed all Divisional police officers and traditional rulers in the affected areas to fish out those involved in the killings within two weeks.

The governor further expressed concerns about the security situations saying that Kaduna has experienced 12 ethnic and religious conflicts from 1980. He explained that failure of the previous administrations to decisively tackle security problems when they occurred encouraged them to degenerate to what it is today.

Aruwan quoted the Governor as saying: “We have studied reports of all committees and commissions of inquiries set up from 1980 to the time we came into power. What we discovered is that negligence of previous Government to implement recommendations encouraged the spate of insecurity to continue unchecked in the state. From that time to date Kaduna has experienced 12 religious and ethnic conflicts.

“Those responsible for the crisis always use religious or ethnic differences to fan the ambers of these crises. There is no way we will brand some people in Nigeria as settlers who don’t have the rights to live in any part of the country. We are all Nigerians and God knows why he made all of us to be Nigerians. He is the one who created us to belong to different faiths or religions. For me, the things that have brought these crises in Kaduna State is that those doing it hide under the guise of religion and ethnicity to cause these conflicts. But we know that illiteracy and poverty are the root cause of the insecurity we have been experiencing.”

Aruwan said that “Governor El-Rufai called on all aggrieved parties to forgive any grievances and always report to the authorities any wrong committed against them to allow the government to use the law to bring about justice.”

He also quoted the Governor as saying: “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.

“While condemning actions of certain people in killing innocent citizens in reprisal attacks, the governor said the government will take actions to deal with those involved.

“We are trying our best and we want people to give us a chance to address these issues. Instead of taking the law into your hands just come and report to us who has grieved you and what is done to you and we will ensure you get justice.

“Southern Kaduna, God has blessed us with a fertile land, abundant natural resources that are largely untapped because of insecurity and unrest. These are capable of bringing foreigners to come and invest in our land but this will not be possible. In my thinking, traditional and community leaders should be concerned about this situation more than anybody. There is no investor that will bring his money in an insecure environment.

“And if you know those that have been wronged tell us and we will go and apologise to them. But if you know those killing innocent people you must also inform us. We will not allow people to do whatever they want in Kaduna as though we don’t have leadership or law and order in the state.”

The statement quoted Deputy Governor Barnabas Yusuf Bala as saying that what is happening in Southern Kaduna is capable of scaring investors away thereby truncating the good plans of the government to develop the region and create job opportunities.

•Photo shows Governor El-Rufai.

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