Declare State Of Emergency In Southern Kaduna – Senate Urges Fg

Source: thewillnigeria.com

BEVERLY HILLS, November 15, (THEWILL) – The Senate has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of 'security emergency' in Southern Kaduna following recurring attacks on communities in the region with heavy casualties.

Senator Danjuma La'ah (Peoples Democratic Party PDP -Kaduna), told the senate at plenary, on Tuesday , that since 2011 many communities in the senatorial district had been consistently attacked by herdsmen saying that such attacks had resulted in deaths, loss of property and displacement of indigenes of the communities.

“We are aware that there has been regular attack by armed herdsmen, the latest being on the 15th and 16th Oct. 2016 in Godogodo community in Jama'a Local Government Area,” he said.

“Subsequent to the attacks, these herdsmen have virtually occupied the displaced communities and are grazing their cattle freely.

“The Kaduna State Government and the Federal Government had made efforts at restoring peace in the area but apparently, the efforts are neither adequate nor effective to prevent more attacks.”

Contributing, another Senator from Kaduna, Shehu Sani (All Progressives Congress) said that the motion was an ample opportunity for senators to intervene in the crisis.

“It is not that it is the first time a government will intervene, but there have been series of interventions that have not produced any result,” he said.

“It is very clear that security agencies and the government have failed to provide security for people who live around that area.

“What we can do is not simply about condemning what has been happening because there has been lots of condemnation that has not produced any result. It is needful for the senate to see the killings as a matter of life and death.

“I believe the intervention of the senate will seriously help the people of Southern Kaduna to get out of the quagmire which they have found themselves.”

In his remark, Senate President Bukola Saraki declared that it was clear and very important that the increase in violent killings was of great concern and that something needed to be done.

“We must as a society, be able to live happily and harmoniously together and anything that threatens that is a threat to the country in general,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kaduna state government, in a statement on Tuesday , said it was saddened over the attacks on five communities in Kauru local government area of the state where armed gunmen, suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, reportedly invaded the villages on Sunday night, killing 35 people, mostly women and children, while several houses were burnt.

The statement which was issued by Samuel Aruwan, spokesman to Governor Nasir ElRufai condoled with the victims of the attack describing the killings as barbaric conduct by people who are opposed to peaceful and harmonious living by communities.

“The government sympathizes with families that lost their loved ones and properties. The Governor prays for the repose of their souls and wishes those that sustained injuries speedy recovery,” the statement read.

“The Kaduna State Security Council has received preliminary reports of the attacks and ordered full scale investigation in to the matter. It has taken further measures to curtail threats to peace in the area.

“However, the government has directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide with immediate effect relief materials to the displaced persons in the communities.”

Story by Oputah David