Kaduna Conflict Politicised, Says Buhari As 10 More People Killed

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday condemned the endless killings and reprisals in Kaduna State, advising the perpetrators to sheathe their swords.

The President, who said he was deeply troubled by the killings, noted that violence could only leave sadness on its trail for the attackers on both sides of the divide.

“I am deeply troubled by the fact that the sanctity of life is now treated with such reckless disregard that people derive joy in shedding the blood of others or perceived enemies,” Buhari was quoted as saying in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu.

Buhari added that “inhumanity has replaced compassion in the hearts and minds of the perpetrators of these atrocities.”

The President observed that “No responsible leader would go to bed happy to see his citizens savagely killing one another on account of ethnic and religious bigotry.”

The President called for patience and dialogue on both sides, saying, “Violence cannot be the solution to these persistent conflicts as long as people resort to deliberate provocation, revenge, and counter-revenge.”

Buhari further stated that the government was in search of a solution, adding, “While the government remains committed to protecting its citizens, the communities involved must also put their shoulder to the wheel in order to find a lasting solution.”

He also said a “lack of cooperation by those involved might frustrate the government’s efforts towards finding a lasting solution, especially if those efforts are politicised.”

Sounding frustrated, the President noted, “If the people resist government’s efforts to hold the perpetrators and their sponsors accountable, it would be very difficult to bring the violence to a permanent end.”

He also expressed his regrets,  “Everything is politicised in Nigeria, including the efforts to bring offenders to justice, because their people will rise up in arms to resist their arrests and prosecution.”

The President went further to say that hatred, bigotry, and prejudice greatly fuelled the killings  as “deadly poisons that have infected the human psyche on such scale that people now don’t have any moral inhibitions about taking life.”

10 Killed in fresh attack on Southern Kaduna village

Meanwhile, gunmen on Saturday attacked Nandu-Gbok village in Sanga Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing 10 persons.

Sanga is a border town with Nasarawa and Plateau States and home to the Deputy Governor-elect, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe.

More than 30 houses were razed in the latest attack which was confirmed by the member representing the area in the National Assembly as well as the PDP deputy governorship candidate in the just concluded election, Marshal Katung.

A statement signed by Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, also confirmed the attack and begged for calm.

The attack is coming on the heels of several attacks on the people of Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

All the attacks are in the Southern part of the state.

It was learnt that the attack on Nandu-Gbok was launched by yet to be identified gunmen at 4am on Saturday.

A source told our correspondent that bandits invaded the village on Saturday, shooting indiscriminately at everyone.

“The heavy gunshots led to confusion as residents ran helter skelter into the bush for safety.

“They set houses ablaze. Ten people were killed, some people were burnt to death, many others were injured, some people are still missing,” the source said.

A member representing Sanga/Jemaa  Federal Constituency, Mr. Shehu Garba while condemning the attacks, called for urgent attention from relevant authority to protect the people.

He said, “We woke up this morning to the sad news of an attack by gunmen on Nandu Gbok, a community in Sanga LGA of Kaduna State.

“About 10 bodies have been recovered and about 30 Houses confirmed burnt down.

“That the latest attack is coming while we are mourning and trying to deal with the devastating massacre brought on the Adara People (in Kajuru LGA) has, once again, brought to the fore the plight of the indigenous people of Southern Kaduna.”

On his part, the deputy governorship candidate of the PDP in the just concluded elections, Marshal Katung blamed the incessant killings in the area on government failure.

“These attacks/Crises are becoming one too many. I am greatly disturbed at the scale and magnitude of destruction of lives and property that have been going on unabated with very little action by the  Government.

“When the crises broke out in Kajuru three weeks ago, we expressed sadness at the comments of our State Government, warning that it could trigger a circle of violence.

“For as long as the government does not treat its citizens with justice, equity and fairness, this unfortunate situation will continue,” he added.

Confirming the attack, the government said nine were killed in the attack on Nandu-Gbok.

(Saturday Punch)