Insecurity: El-Rufai tasks Zango Kataf, Kauru leaders to expose evil perpetrators


Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state has appealed to elected officials and traditional rulers in Zango Kataf and Kauru Local Government Areas (LGAs) to take up their leadership roles in exposing evil doers within their communities.
The two Kaduna LGAs were recently embroiled in violent sectarian clashes leading to several deaths which forced the state government to impose a 24-hour curfew in the areas to stem the tide of the crisis.


But governor el-Rufai, while addressing a stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday told the political and traditional authorities of Zango Kataf and Kauru local government areas not to abdicate their responsibilities by exposing and reporting the few that engage in inciting and violent actions that could endanger the people. 
El Rufai assured the stakeholders that the Kaduna state government will uphold the right of every citizen to live in peace and harmony. Responding to the request for firm action against persons using conventional and social media to spread fake news and panic, El Rufai pointed out to them that ceding the narrative of events in the area to non-formal actors is not helpful to the cause of peace and the rule of law.
A statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Governor, Mr Muyiwa Adekeye, after the meeting, said that the governor explained “that it was up to the stakeholders from the area to openly controvert false narratives.’’
Governor el-Rufai chaired the meeting comprising security agencies and major stakeholders from the area, as part of measures to restore stability, promote peace and harmony between the affected communities.
El Rufai noted that ‘’the portrayal of parts of Southern Kaduna as unsafe spaces deters development and investments. We welcome the apparent determination of the stakeholders to turn the page on the cycle of clashes and reprisals”.
The statement said that the governor is awaiting advice from the core security agencies on the request to review the curfew hours, but promised to address the stakeholders’ demand for roads.
Governor el-Rufai promised that ‘’the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure will construct the Sabo-Kigudu Bridge on Kibori -Kigudu road in Zango Kataf LGA and the Bakin Kogi to Kamarun-Chawai road in Kauru LGA.’’
The traditional rulers, community leaders and elected officials from the two local governments expressed regret at the violent clashes and the loss of lives and property. They assured the government that the communities are working to restore peace, and that consultations to rebuild the confidence of victims were being undertaken. 


They requested the state government to review the 24-hour curfew to enable farmers take utmost advantage of the rainy season,’’ Adekeye said.
The meeting was attended by Agwatyap, HRH Dominic Gambo Yahaya, HRH the Chief of Chawai, Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed, Hon Mukhtar Chawai and Hon. Amos Magaji, the members representing Kauru and Zangon/Jaba federal constituencies respectively.
Hon. Isaac Auta Zankai, deputy speaker Kaduna State House of Assembly representing Kauru state constituency and Hon. Angulu Kwasau representing Zangon state constituency also attended the meeting.


Mr Elias Manza, chairman Zango Kataf LGA, and Shuaibu Goma, chairman Kauru LGA also attended the meeting, along with Suleiman Gora, Elias Gora and other community leaders from the Atyap, Fulani and Chawai communities of the two local government.
The statement listed Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Secretary to the State Government, Mr Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mrs Priscilla Ankut, Executive Vice Chairman of Kaduna State Peace Commission and Hajiya Khadija Hawaja, a member of the Commission as government officials that were at the meeting.

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