By Olayemi Esan
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor has said emphatically that the military will deploy more men and equipments to Southern Kaduna to put an end to the lingering security challenges bedeviling Southern Kaduna and Kaduna State as a whole.
General Irabor who visited and met with critical stakeholders drawn from 5 local governments of Southern Kaduna under the Joint Operation Area of Operation SAFE HAVEN said this at the end of a-one-day peace parley convened in Kafanchan on Thursday to proffered solutions of insecurity and to address the problem for improved socio-economic growth of the area.
General Irabor addressing participants assured Southern Kaduna of the Military intervention and send a strong warning to those killing innocent people and destroying properties, saying 'their days are numbered'.
He also met with retired senior military officers of southern Kaduna extraction to chant ways towards ending the incessant attacks in the area.
Responding to comments and suggestions from community leaders and representatives of various groups, General Irabor revealed that security of the communities goes beyond military deployment.
He noted the significance of collaboration and support to security agencies and caution the people against taking the law into their hands.
The CDS also warned the people of the dangers of habouring criminal elements, revealing that, with sincere commitment to the suggestions discussed, the days of the enemies of peace are numbered. He said a new era of peace in southern Kaduna has come.
The Chief further encouraged the formation of joint security committee of all the diverse communities to work out sustainable modalities towards enduring peace in southern Kaduna. While urging the people to always report offenders to the community leaders and security agencies, the CDS warned the pastoralists to decrease from night and underage grazing.
The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, representated by the State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Mr Samuel Aruwan, said between 2020 and 2021, a total of 692 people where killed to violent attacks in Southern Kaduna alone.
Governor El-Rufai said his administration has always been liaising with the security operatives to contain the situation in the general area and pledged their unalloyed support to the security agencies at all times.
In his contribution, the Co-Chairman, Kaduna Family, a committee set up to foster unity in the State by the Kaduna State Government under the State Peace Commission, Apostle Emmanuel Nuhu Kure, urged the Kaduna State Government to stop releasing security update adding that people find it offensive most times.
He expressed hope that the peace parley will open the gates of reconciliation and translate into a more secured and peaceful Southern Kaduna.
The peace parley brought representatives of various groups in Southern Kaduna including Traditional Leaders, SOKAPU, Hausa, Fulani, Atyap and Oegworok communities, as well as representatives of JNI among others.
Those who spoke during the stakeholders meeting were representatives of Fulani, Atiyap, Hausa, Kagoro and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as well as Jamatul Nasir Islam (JNI). Others include: representative of the traditional rulers, rep of Members of the House of Representatives and House of Assembly, senator representing Kaduna South, rep of retired senior officers and president southern Kaduna peoples Union.
The CDS also meet with retired senior military officers of southern kaduna extraction where a way forward toward ensuring lasting peace in Southern Kaduna was discussed.
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