President Buhari as he arrives Kaduna to meet religious leaders
- counsels El-Rufai on solution to crisis
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said he would not fold his arms and allow those responsible for the recent killing in parts of Kaduna State to go unpunished.
He said the Federal Government would take strongest measures possible to punish the perpetrators.
Buhari made the promise while paying a condolence visit to the state.
During the visit, the President met with senior government officials, security chiefs, traditional rulers, religious, political and community leaders at the Musa Yar’Adua Sports Complex, Kaduna.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President expressed sadness at the recent loss of lives and property in Kasuwan Magani and the unrest around Kaduna metropolis.
He said such wanton killings must stop forthwith.
He said, “If in the past, they (perpetrators of violence) got away scot-free, we shall now hold everyone to account for these latest killings.
“It is unacceptable that criminal elements can visit on citizens the wanton killings recorded in the Kasuwan Magani incident of October 18, 2018 and the unrest around Kaduna metropolis a few days later. This must stop.”
The President directed the Nigeria Police Force to remain vigilant in securing communities and diligent in prosecuting criminal offences.
He said he had put the police under his watch.
“The Nigerian police are in the frontline of securing communities. For the judiciary, unless the investigations are credible and rapidly done, there is nothing they can do.
“From now on, the Nigeria police, you better watch it, I am going to watch you closely,” the President said.
Buhari also appealed to community leaders including ward heads, village heads and traditional rulers to be closer to their people.
He urged them not to shield those who are planning to wreak havoc on the community from law enforcement agencies.
He commiserated with the government and people of Kaduna State, and families who lost loved ones in the incidents.
The President also paid tribute to the late Agom Adara, Dr. Maiwada Galadima, eulogising the traditional ruler of Adara chiefdom for serving his community and Kaduna State with dedication.
The President appealed to all who call Kaduna home to do their best to uphold peace in their respective communities.
He warned that chaos and anarchy tend to worsen and exacerbate whatever issues are agitating a community.
Buhari added, “Violence shatters and divides people and stifles the prospect of any community that succumbs to its tragic logic.
“The Federal Government commends the efforts of the Kaduna State Government in responding to and managing the crisis.
“More federal security assets are being provided at the request of the Kaduna State Government to help uphold and keep the peace.
“The Federal Government will continue to work to ensure that more security assets are recruited and deployed across the country to protect all citizens going about their lawful business and to reinforce the authority of the government.”
Buhari also welcomed the decision of the Kaduna State Government and its local governments to build and provide facilities for the take-off of more police divisions and civil defence offices in the state.
“On their part, citizens also have a duty to be law-abiding in their conduct and within their communities.
“There is a need to avoid violence as a tool of negotiation or obtaining advantage, and learn to listen to each other and commit to resolving differences through peaceful means.
“Kaduna, once the home of the Premier and home of the New Nigerian must not earn itself a new name – home of violence.
“The federal security agencies will hunt and prosecute all those who sponsored these acts of violence,” he said.
The President had come to the state for a meeting with religious and traditional rulers in the state over the crisis that has bedeviled the state which led to a curfew imposed by Governor Nasir El- Rufai.
He arrived the Nigerian Airforce Base (NAF), Kaduna around 10.10am in a presidential aircraft on his way to the Murtala Square, the venue of the meeting.
Along with the president are the NSA, DG DSS, IGP, Minister of Finance, Kaduna State Police Commissioner among others who were recieved by the governor
At the venue are the Emir of Zazzau, Dr. Shehu Idris, Archbishop of Kaduna Catholic Archdiocese, Most Reverend, Mathew Man-oso Ndagoso and Secretary General of the Jama’atul Nasril Islam (JNI), Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu.
Among other clerics at the venue are Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bishop George Jonathan Dodo, founder of the Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria, Pastor Yohanna Y.D. Buru.
The Paramount ruler, Agom Adara, Maiwada Galadima was killed by kidnappers last weekend.
The 24 hours curfew imposed on the state following the crisis was only reviewed on Sunday to 6.am to 5.pm.
- Buhari counsels El-Rufai on solution to crisis
Buhari, R, El-Rufai
Meanwhile, the President has advised Kaduna state Governor Nasir El-Rufai that equality of opportunity, the creation of jobs and upholding law and order would prevent further crisis in the state.
He gave the advice during his condolence visit to Kaduna state where many people died after attacks by unknown gunmen.
The attacks made the state governor Nasir El-Rufai impose a 24-hour curfew on residents on two occasions.
But Buhari who assured the state government of support believes that human capital programmes would ensure cases of crisis are brought to the barest minimum.
“You have a partner in the Federal Government that stands ready to provide concrete support not only to Kaduna but all states to help address the poverty and inequality that fuels some of these recurrent crises,” Buhari said.
“We are doing our best to develop human capital and address poverty and inequality in all parts of the country. Providing decent education and health are my priority goals.”
“We cannot kill and burn our way out of poverty and inequality. Strife can only deliver more pain and more strife. It is time to break out of a mindset that limits us from collaborating productively for the common good. Let us continue to work together, to put our people first and make their lives better,” he said.
The president also urged citizens to be law-abiding and be accommodating of each other irrespective of religious beliefs as “there is a need to avoid violence as a tool of negotiation or obtaining the advantage, and learn to listen to each other and commit to resolving differences through peaceful means.”
“Let it be clear to all that individuals and communities have obligations to comply with the law and uphold peace. These obligations include respecting the rights of others to live wherever they choose, to worship freely and to pursue lawful livelihoods anywhere in this country.
“These are constitutional and human rights that we as a government and people must uphold and depend,” he said.
He stated that justice and due punishment would be meted to the perpetrators of the violent attacks.
“The Federal Government will take strongest measures possible to punish perpetrators of these crimes. If in the past, they got away scot-free, we shall now hold everyone to account for these latest killings.”
He assured victims of the post-2011 election violence of compensation, saying “I assure you that the Federal Government will give due consideration to the matter.”
