TheCable

In a bid to end the recent killings in southern Kaduna, Nasir el-Rufai, governor of the state, on Tuesday chaired a meeting of the state security council in Kafanchan, headquarters of Jema’a local government area.

According to a statement released on Wednesday by Samuel Aruwan, media aide of the governor, the meeting followed an assessment tour of the affected locations in Jema’a and Sanga councils.

The governor and the security chiefs visited Ninte in Jema’a and Angwan Mada in Sanga local government councils, and he presided over the 28th security council meeting in Kafanchan.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the closed-door meeting, el-Rufai said:  “These cycles of killings are unjustifiable and senseless. No individual or group has a right to kill other people. Murder is inhuman and ungodly.

“We are saddened by the needless shedding of blood. We condemn lawless conduct and the disregard for life that the killers have shown. If anyone has a problem, he should not take the laws in to his own hands; instead, he should report to security agencies who are trained to deal with such situations.

“We came here for practical assessment of the situation, and to condole with the victims. Members of the state security council have met here, in a determined bid to stop the attacks and killings. Actions to apprehend the perpetrators will continue, along with other peace-building moves that government has been engaged in.

“Government appeals for the support and cooperation of all citizens to create situations of harmony, and to uphold the security of all persons and property.”

The security council consists of the deputy governor; general officer commanding, one division, Nigerian Army; Kaduna state commissioner of police, state director of DSS; air officer commanding, Nigerian air force training command, Kaduna; commander of Nigerian Navy School of Armament Technology; heads of Civil Defence Corps; NDLEA, customs; immigration; FRSC; chairman of Kaduna state council of emirs and chiefs.