We strongly condemn the recent killing of 11 people in Goska Village, Kafanchan, in Jama’ah Local Government Area of Kaduna State, despite the curfew imposed on the area by Governor Nasir el-Rufai. Reports indicate that gunmen invaded the village last Saturday evening as residents prepared for Christmas. Parts of Goska were reportedly razed despite the heavy presence of security operatives in the village. No help came to the victims until the attackers, who are suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, left the scene.
Governor el-Rufai has condemned the attack and assured that the attackers will be prosecuted. He also empathised with the families of the victims and charged the security agencies to redouble their efforts to prevent further attacks in the Southern part of the state. The governor also directed the State Emergency Management Agency to take inventory of those affected and give relief materials to them.
Following the incessant attacks on residents in the area, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has deployed more police operatives to Kafanchan and neighbouring communities in Southern Kaduna in order to quell the rising violence. He has also been reported to have constituted a Joint Tactical Operation Squad, comprising the Police Mobile Force, Counter-Terrorism Unit, Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Intelligence Response Team, Special Investigation Bureau, and Explosives Ordnance Department.
Others are the IGP Monitoring Unit, Police K9 (Sniffer Dog Section), Police Air Wing and the Police Medical Team with headquarters in Kafanchan. According to Idris, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of operations, Habila Joshak, at the launching of ‘Operation Harmony’ recently in Kaduna, the men will be proactive, work on actionable intelligence, conduct continuous raids of identified hideouts and carry out massive deployment and 24-hour surveillance.
The recurring attacks on communities in Southern Kaduna, by gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, is a worrisome development that should be arrested before it spreads to other parts of the state. The violence in the area over the years has been reported to have claimed 808 lives, 1,422 houses and 16 churches. It is disheartening that the problem in this part of the state is continuing despite the heavy deployment of security operatives to prevent further attacks.
It is also surprising that gunmen willfully killed people at night without any response from the security operatives. Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) clearly states that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.”
The wanton killing of people in Southern Kaduna and other parts of the country by suspected Fulani herdsmen is a breach of this section of the constitution. This constitutional provision has been repeatedly negated in Kafanchan where people are killed for no just cause. The growing insecurity in Kafanchan is, indeed, troubling.
We call on the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, to rise to the occasion and ensure the restoration of law and order in the troubled zone. He must focus his attention on the security of Southern Kaduna until there is permanent peace in the area. He must also strive to correct the impression that the problem in Southern Kaduna is religious, political or tribal.
He should set up a judicial commission of inquiry to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the killings. The outcome of the inquiry should be made public and its recommendations implemented.
It is quite disturbing that Kaduna State is fast becoming a hotbed of violence. Not long ago, the state had to contend with members of the Islamic Movement, otherwise known as Shi’ites. We advise that the trouble in Southern Kaduna should not be carried into the New Year. We say this because if the problem is not well handled, it is capable of spiraling out of control. The crisis in Southern Kaduna predated this government. Unless the fundamental causes of the crisis are resolved, there will be no end to it.
Let the Kaduna State government work with the Federal Government to put the situation under control. Governor el-Rufai should avoid anything that can worsen the situation and treat the entire people of the state equitably to reduce the tension that leads to frequent violence in the area.