…As 24-hour curfew is imposed on affected areas
The Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), has called on the people of the State to defend themselves in the face of what it described as the government’s failure to defend the citizens against attackers.
The call followed Sunday’s reported attack on Agban Kagoro, Kaura local government area of Kaduna State, where about 23 people were killed and several houses burnt.
In an issued statement signed by its State Chairman, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, CAN lamented that Kaduna State has lost several lives in the past four years, while its leaders scarcely show empathy or concern for the victims, seeing that the government’s response is usually in the media.
The statement partly read: “The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kaduna State Chapter is sad and grieving following the continued killings, kidnappings, banditry, and the unimaginable evil going on in our State unabated without any substantial action by the government and security forces.
“One only needs to see how human beings are killed and roasted by bandits that attacked Kagoro to conclude that this is one loss too many. How long will this evil continue and when will our leaders act dutifully?
“Kaduna State citizens are tired of the government’s rhetorical responses without concrete action taken to protect lives and property. Accordingly, we want to hear and see the killers and kidnappers arrested, as the government’s usual media condemnation whenever there is havoc is not good enough.
“Meanwhile, we appeal to citizens to also wake up and do the needful, protecting their lives and community. When a government fails to protect you, you ought to find a means of defending yourselves”.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State government, while condemning the violence and all acts of lawlessness that have occurred in the area, said that following advice from security agencies, it has declared a 24-hour curfew in Jema’a and Kaura local government areas with immediate effect.
The State governor, Nasir Ahmed el-Rufa’i, in a statement he issued yesterday through his Commissioner, Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, said the 24-hour curfew was to enable the security agencies stabilise the situation in the affected communities.
According to the statement, “This is to assist the security agencies to stabilise the situation in the areas, save lives and property and enable the restoration of law and order.
“The security agencies have full authorisation to enforce the curfew. Government appeals to all residents of Jema’a and Kaura local government areas to cooperate with the security agencies in the urgent task of restoring peace and upholding law and order”.
In a related development, terrorists have reportedly killed over 30 people and kidnapped several others in Bungudu and Bukkuyum local government areas of Zamfara State.
It was gathered that 17 people were killed in two villages of Juyi and Doruwa, in Bungudu local government area, while 20 were killed in Ganar-Kiyawa village of Bukkuyum local government.
However, the State Police Command confirmed the killing of 16 people in Sunday’s attack. The State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Shehu, said the Command, in collaboration with the military, was conducting an extensive bush combing of the affected community.
According to a statement issued to newsmen, the Special Adviser to Governor Bello Matawalle on Media, Zailani Bappa, said the governor was deeply saddened by the recent attacks on some communities in the state.
Matawalle said the “dastardly and cowardly” attack was coming at a time when peace was fast improving in the State, adding that it would not deter the efforts of his administration at achieving it.
While condoling the families of those whose lives were lost in ‘the senseless attack’, Governor Matawalle directed the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to immediately release relief materials to all victims of the attack and their families.
