TheCable

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, has cautioned all communities in the state to shun “an eye for an eye” stance in resolving their differences.

The governor said this when he visited the internally displaced persons (IDPs) at their camp in Maraban Kajuru in Kajuru local government area of the state on Wednesday.

He admonished communities with grievances over killings or attacks to report to security agencies and allow government to take up the administration of justice.

“I am saddened by the situation,” said el-Rufai in a statement issued by Samuel Aruwan, his spokesman.

“What we saw is unfortunate, but we must speak out and tell our people the right thing to be done. An eye for an eye is not a solution to the vicious cycles of killings and will complicate and undermine collective efforts.

“Our admonition is simple. If Fulani or Adara communities have complaints of killings or attacks, they should report and allow security agencies and government to take up the administration of justice. If these communities resort to taking the laws into their own hands, it will not work. That is not the solution.

“As a government, we will continue to collaborate with security agencies, traditional and religious institutions in peace building, but we will be frank to our communities. They have lived peacefully before this mistrust and they can rekindle the glorious past by simply not taking the laws into their own hands and doing away with jungle justice.

“On our own part, we will do our very best in protecting lives and property.  We will also not shy away from applying the law to anyone found complicit in the violent communal conflicts, irrespective of their status, religion, ethnicity or political persuasions. Let us cherish all lives. No life is more precious than another life.”

The state police command had recently confirmed the killing of 21 people by gunmen in Banono and Anguwan Aku communities in Kufana district of Kajuru LGA.