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| Governor of Kaduna State Nasir el-Rufai |
Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai on Tuesday sought the deployment of more troops in the state to maintain peace during the general elections.
El-Rufai spoke shortly after a security meeting convened by President Muhammadu Buhari ended at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He stated that from latest figures he had received, over 130 lives were lost in the recent attacks in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.
He recalled how some people doubted the initial report on the loss of 66 lives, adding that the updated toll had risen to over 130.
The governor called those who said nobody died in the attack โirresponsibleโ.
He said, โThe last report we got is that over 130 people were killed, not even 66. And the Fulani leaders are providing the names of all these people; we have the list and we will release it to the press.
โWe can release the pictures of the people killed and how the army had to be there to help bury them two days after they were killed because the bodies were decomposing.
โBut some people are being irresponsible, they are pretending this has not happened because it does not fit their ethnic or partisan narrative. It is totally irresponsible because this can happen to anyone of us.โ
He said he had been appealing to the victimsโ families to avoid reprisals not to worsen the security situation in the area.
El-Rufai added, โWe requested enhanced military presence in particular locations that are either affected by rural banditry, these are the local government of Birnin-Gwari/Giwa Angchukwu and areas where there has been a history of either electoral violence or ethno-religious intolerance.
โWe have already mapped out local arrangements with the garrison commander and the commissioner of police and we have made adequate arrangements to ensure that every citizen of Kaduna State will be free to vote in an atmosphere of peace and security.
โWe got assurances from Mr President that whatever security assets we need in addition to what is already on the ground to ensure peaceful elections will be provided.โ
The governor said the meeting dwelt on the general insecurity in some northern states, particularly Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Kaduna.
While the case of Yobe, Adamawa and Borno had to do with attacks by Boko Haram, he said the meeting touched on the Kajuru killings.
El-Rufai said, โThe governor of Borno State submitted a comprehensive brief on the situation in Borno and Yobe states, which he is very familiar with, having been on the seat for eight years.
โThe governor of Adamawa State presented a situation report regarding Adamawa and I submitted a briefing based on what has been happening in Kaduna State in the last few weeks and months.
โWe noted the significant improvement in the security situation across our states, in spite of the challenges and thanked the Federal Government for making available security assets to the states any time we needed them, which has led to some level of stability of the situation.
โAcross the states, we are ready for elections; we do not believe that the level of challenges will preclude elections not taking place all over our states. Of course, in the case of Borno, other than one or two local governments that may vote outside of their immediate areas, every voter will vote in their local government, compared to the situation in 2015 that some voters in Borno had to vote in Maiduguri.โ
El-Rufai spoke just as the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ahmed Abdulrahman, announced the arrest of 11 suspects in connection with the Kajuru killings.
He said they would be arraigned on Thursday.
Also speaking after the meeting, Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said he was ready to die if that would end the insurgency in the state.
Shettima stated that despite the recent attack on his convoy that led to the loss of lives, he would return to the Maiduguri-Gamboru road for campaign next week, adding that he would not drive in a bulletproof car.
