Kaduna in the throes of gunmen attacks

The recent attacks on innocent residents by unknown gunmen in parts of Kaduna state have threatened to set back the peace drive in the state. As the state government took measures to ensure the success of its peace initiatives, ABDULRAHEEM AODU and OJO SOLA OLUSEGUN looks at what panacea the government’s steps portends for the people.  

Since he assumed office over a year ago as Governor of Kaduna state, Dr Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has gradually rebuilt the fragile peace and unity in Kaduna state, in continuation of the programme of his predecessor, as part of his three pronged agenda of peace, unity and development.
This is aimed at bridging the gap and massive schism between the Christians southerners massed south of the River Kaduna and Muslim northerners camped in the northern parts of the same river.

However, the peace building initiatives, which looks to be succeeding with the residents gradually warming to themselves, is now threatened by pockets of attacks and killings by unknown gunmen in parts of the state particularly Giwa, Biurnin Gwari and villages in Kaura local government area of southern Kaduna.
The various attacks had not only claimed the lives of scores of residents of the parts affected in the state, they have also brought attendant injuries, loss of cattle and other livestock and destruction of many houses and properties worth millions of naira in the affected parts.

Though the killings were unconnected from security and media reports, they were not in isolation as the state has suffered such pockets of attacks and killings in those areas bordering other states within the same Kaura and Birnin Gwari local government areas, while the Dogon Dawa incident near Birnin Gwari where several people were murdered in cold blood by unknown gunmen still rings a bell causing involuntary fear in the minds of those that visited the gory scene of the October 2011 killings.

The recent attacks and killings in Kaura local government area forced Governor Mukhtar Yero to abort his trip to the United States, where he was billed alongside other northern governors to address an international peace conference organized by the American government on peace and security.
Since his return, Governor Yero has taken bold steps to put a permanent end to the killings and insurgencies racking the state and bring peace to bear across the length and breadth of Kaduna state.

Governor Yero had briefed President Goodluck Jonathan on the situation and Blueprint learnt from an impeccable source that a detachment of security agents is being posted to the affected areas to secure the area and stop the incessant killings, while he convened an emergency security meeting which was attended by all the security chiefs in the state, including stakeholders from Kaura LGA to decide the best way to end the problem.

The Governor also met with all members of the council of traditional rulers in the state where he promised to fish out the perpetrators of the Kaura killings and bring them to book to deter others from carrying out such dastardly acts against the people of the state.
Governor Yero said the state government will not fold its arms and allow hoodlums to cause chaos in the state through incessant attacks on hapless citizens of the state. “I invited you as traditional leaders because of the attacks in Moroa Chiefdom in Kaura Local Government Area and other similar attacks in Brinin Gwari and Giwa, which calls for immediate action.

“If we allow such attacks to go on without taking any serious measures, it could lead to serious breakdown of security and we will not allow that to happen. You also have a role to play as traditional rulers, because we are all under your rule. That is why I invited you because we need to collaborate in finding a lasting solution to this problem.”

The chairman Kaduna state council of chiefs and Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris said the killings of innocent people must be stopped. “Such unwarranted acts of wickedness can bring calamity upon the entire society. We must forge greater unity among ourselves because we are all one. We cannot continue to allow people to commit such crimes and get away with it. We will continue to support security agencies in fighting crimes and ensure peace in our domains.”

The Kaduna state government later convened a two-day security retreat for traditional rulers in the state to enhance their capacities in dealing with emerging security challenges, as part of its multi dimensional approach to security and peace building in the state.
Addressing the retreat, Governor Yero decried the dangerous trend of wanton destruction of life and property in the state, saying it is time to halt the ugly situation through collaborative efforts of stakeholders before it gets out of hand.

He said it is unfortunate that some persons find pleasure in taking human lives without justification. “We need to know why people are now killing fellow humans the way they kill ants. People talk about differences in tribe or religion as the cause of what is happening, but we have all these differences in the past and we lived in peace. So why can’t we live in peace now, we need to find out what has gone wrong.”

Yero tasked traditional rulers on building lasting peace and security. “Dialogue is the only answer; we need to dialogue in order to understand with one another. There is no amount of guns or security that can guarantee peace, it is only through dialogue and understanding.”

The Governor, who pledged to hold similar retreat for religious leaders in the state, said the state government will assist in rebuilding the burnt houses in the villages affected in the recent insurgencies to hasten the rehabilitation process and return normalcy, adding that government will increase security presence in the areas.

“Everyone has a right to practice any religion and there is no compulsion in that. I always believe that once Kaduna is peaceful the entire country will be peaceful.”
Governor Yero also met variously with elders from Kaura LGA and all community development associations from Southern Kaduna zone, while he is also talking with stakeholders in all communities in the state towards strengthening the state vigilante service in order to complement the regular security agencies and to improve community surveillance day and night.

The Governor also discussed with his Plateau state counterpart on ways to stop the transborder insurgencies through joint security efforts, considering that the Kaura LGA borders Plateau state communities, to ensure lasting peace for all the communities in the area both in Kaduna and Plateau states.
According to the Kaduna state Governor, “peace cannot be achieved through the use of force or by the number of security personnel in the streets. It can only come as a result of genuine commitment by the people to live in peace with one another.”

The Director General Media and Publicity to the Governor, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki told reporters that Governor Yero is uninterested in politicising the killings but is rather concerned about finding a lasting solution that would bring peace to the people.

“What happened in Kaura affects all of us. We are very concerned and Governor has directed full probe of the killings and assessment by SEMA (State Emergency Management Agency) on the number of victims, houses and displaced persons.

“At times of crisis of this magnitude, lot of people would want Governor to politicise the issue by visiting the area, which he is not going to do. The Governor is genuinely committed to bringing lasting solution and has been doing a lot to resolve this issue,” Maiyaki added.