El-Rufai moves to end killings in Southern Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai has tasked the committee headed by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai, to put an end to the killings in Southern Kaduna by unknown gunmen who were alleged to have wasted over 4,000 lives since 1999.

While inaugurating the Peace and Reconciliation Committee on Southern Kaduna, the governor he expressed sadness over the persistent killing in the southern part of the state.

The governor explained that the perennial killings necessitated the setting up of the committee which has one month to submit its report. Addressing members of the committee at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna, El-Rufai said the seemingly intractable bloody attacks in the southern part of the state could only be resolved when the warring parties are brought to the round table for dialogue. He urged the committee members to do everything humanly possible to ensure lasting peace in the area.

He pledged government’s assistance to the panel in carrying out its assignment. He pledged to implement recommendations of the committee and other similar committees set up by previous administrations in the state.

This, according to him, would ensure that peace, genuine reconciliation and progress returned to the Southern Kaduna in particular and the state in general.

El-Rufai said: “We are honoured that Gen. Agwai and each and everyone of you have agreed to serve in this important committee. The circles of killings and conflicts in Southern Kaduna have been a source of concern to us. We are concerned because communities that have stayed together for hundreds of years have suddenly appeared to turn sagainst each other”.

“We know that this problem can only be solve through community dialogue in getting to the roots of the problem and bringing everyone to the table to hear their sides. This is why we are constituting the committee. The idea was started by the previous administration, but for some reasons the committee never took off”.

“When we came up, we saw the idea and we thought it is a very good one that could contribute in no small way in resolving the problem resulting in the killings in Southern Kaduna. We are humbled and privileged that Gen. Lurther Agwai, who is not only the best officer produced by the Nigerian Army but someone that has helped other communities and countries addressed this kind of problem, has agreed to serve as chairman of the panel. Gen. Agwai has just returned from Darfur on similar issues.”

In his remarks, Agwai, said no responsible government would encourage destruction of lives and property of its citizens. He explained that he accepted to serve in the committee because he knew that the report would not be abandon like previous ones.

He pledged that members of the committee would carry out their assignment with the hope of finding a lasting solution to the series of attacks in the southern part of the state. Agwai said : “You can replace everything in this world, but you can not replace life.

The lives that were lost were precious and I think now government will not want to unnecessarily lose one soul. I think this is a timely action by you to identify with the people of the state and find lasting solution to this problem.

“I got many telephone text messages, people saying why are you wasting your time to do anything, and I said we may not even know where those reports are. But I am positive that this time, there will be a difference. That is why I accepted to serve.”