..As El-rufai condemns, orders investigation
By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Two suspected herders have been reportedly lynched and burnt for alleged links with banditry in Birinin Gwari Local government area of Kaduna state.
But reacting to the action, the Governor Kaduna state Mal Nasir el-Rufa’i condemned the action and ordered thorough investigation to fish out the killers.
The Governor re-iterated the importance of recourse to law, in a statement signed by Samuel Aruwan, the commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State.
The security agencies had in a security update to state government reported that the mob forcefully seized the two herders from security personnel, on unsubstantiated claims that they were linked with banditry.
The statement reads: “Governor El-Rufai expressed deep concern at the violent actions of the mob, and strongly condemned the extra-judicial killings.
“He re-iterated the place of lawful methods as the only acceptable option in confronting any suspicions of criminality”, it stated.
The Governor appealed to the families of the victims to remain calm, and directed security agencies to conduct thorough investigations towards fishing out the perpetrators.
The Governor has also directed the Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs to liaise with the military, police and DSS to contact the victims’ families for further engagements toward averting counter-attacks.
He cautioned against further actions of self-help, and warned against dangerous stereotyping, labeling and similar lawless dispositions capable of stirring up violence.
He renewed appeals for consistent recourse to constituted agencies the, statement added.
The statement further averred, “the government has received reports from security agencies regarding the conduct of some individuals and groups in the general area, who unwittingly complicate the security situation with insensitive public commentaries.
“Such actions have been adjudged by security agencies as unhelpful in the ongoing operations against terrorists and bandits.
“While the Government of Kaduna State is not against commentaries on security challenges, the government’s position remains that individuals and groups with useful information should liaise with security agencies, rather than expose citizens to extreme danger through supposed advocacy.”
