El-Rufai raises alarm over strong presence of terrorists in Kaduna

 

 

 

From Victor Duruamaku  Owerri with agency reports

 

Worried about the spate of insecurity in the state and country in general, Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on Thursday in Kaduna expressed concerns about the emergence of insurgents and their enclaves in Birnin Gwari and Chukun Local Government Areas of the state.

 

He listed the insurgents to those belonging to Boko Haram and Ansaru.

 

El Rufai raised the concerns after the presentation of the Kaduna State Security Incident Report for the first quarter of 2022.

 

He also expressed worry at the increasing use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in the state, which he said suggested that terrorists had moved into Kaduna State.

 

He noted that the debriefing on the Abuja-Kaduna train attack of March 28 indicated that the terrorists were planning to relocate to Kaduna.

 

According to him, the assailants made comments such as: “the forests in Kaduna are even better than that of Sambisa and so they should all relocate here.’’

 

The governor stressed that “insecurity has moved from the Northeast to the Northwest.

 

“The situation in the Northwest is far more serious and could be potentially more dangerous than we have ever had in the Northeast.

 

“We would like the military and security agencies to take notice of this before things go out of control.’’

 

El-Rufai thanked the police for ensuring that many IEDCs and mines found in Kaduna State were defused without loss of lives.

 

He also lamented the high rate of drug abuse in Kaduna State and commended the NDLEA, traditional leaders and community leaders for efforts at curtailing the scourge.

 

The governor stated that the government would seek legal advice to shut patent medicine stores selling illicit drugs, shut the premises and acquire the building for demolition.

 

“We have to take drastic action because related to every form of crime from banditry to terrorism is the use of hard drugs.

 

“These bandits take drugs before they commit their crimes; virtually every crime is related to drug abuse. I think we must cut the supply chain to enable us to control the demand,’’ he emphasised.

 

El-Rufai also noted that security agencies had been overstretched and there was the need to increase recruitment into vigilance groups.

 

“The 1000 vigilantes that we recruited and trained at the Police College have been very useful in assisting the army, police and other security agents,’’ he said.

 

The governor also said that he craved the resumption of flights at the Kaduna Airport after the March 26 assailants’ attack at the facility.

 

“We are grateful to the Defence Headquarters for enabling the establishment of the Nigeria Defence Academy Demonstration Battalion in Kaduna State.

 

“I appeal to the Air Force to also have some kind of permanent deployment at the airport to secure it so that flights will resume,’’ El-Rufai said

 

Meanwhile, Terrorists have attacked Gidan Waya community in Kaduna State where they kidnapped 4 female students of the State College of Education (KSCOE), Gidan Waya in Jema’a Local Government Area of the state.

 

Journalists gathered that the students were kidnapped at Mile 1 area of Gidan Waya .

Spokesperson of  the Kaduna State Student Union (KADSSU), KSCOE Chapter, Comrade Benjamin Fie, said their abductors have demanded already asked for a huge ransom.

“It’s with a bitter heart that the Kaduna state student union (KADSSU) of the prestigious Kaduna State College of Education, Gidan Waya wishes to make it known to the college community and the public that four of their students were abducted,” he said.

 

According to Fie, those abducted were Racheal Edwin, a 200 level  student of Biology/Geography Department; Esther Ishaya, 200 level student from Economic/History Department; Promise Tanimu, 200 level from English/History Department and Beauty Luka, a 300 level student from Spe/CRS Department.”

 

He said the “terrorists  are already demanding a huge ransom for their release. We want to use this medium to urge the college community and all the students to commit themselves, the school and their parents to prayers.”

 

 

However, Igbo National  Council (INC), a  political pressure Group, championing the cause of the Igbo Nation, has threatened a reprisal attack on Sokoto State indigenes residing in the South East region  if the gruesome Killing  and the Wanton destruction, Looting and burning of the Properties of Igbo People in Sokoto and Some Northern States of Nigeria are not put to stop

 

According to an official  statement  signed by it’s President, Mr Chillos  Godsent, “Igbo National Council (INC) condemn in it’s totality  these acts of wickedness saying, ” enough is enough” stressing that they would not fold their hands to watch these evil acts continue

 

INC therefore advice the Northern elites to immediately caution  and call to order these blood thirsty hoodlums that have  continued  to take laws into their hands in pretence to be defending the Islamic Faith.

 

It therefore charged   Ndigbo living in Sokoto and other States of Northern Nigeria to rise up in solidarity to defend themselves.

 

” Nigeria belong to the Igbos, therefore Ndigbo cannot allow themselves  to be intimidated or threatened to leave any part of the Country Nigeria” the body insisted

 

According to the Congress, ” Igbo Race is  not known to be cowards and cannot live the lives of cowards.”

 

”  We are brave people,and must continue to exhibit that bravity anytime and anywhere no matter what the circumstances are.”

 

” we call on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the heads of Security Agencies to immediately fish out and prosecute the perpetrators of the Wanton Destruction and Looting of properties of Ndigbo living and doing business in Sokoto and other States of Northern Nigeria.”

 

According to an official statement by the INC, ” the  Nigerian Police and Military must demonstrate the will to be unbias and capable of defending Nigerians in times  of distress not minding the Ethnic or Religious belongings of the vulnerable persons or victims.”

 

The body stated ” we therefore wish to state that any further attack on Ndigbo or destruction of the properties of Nigerians of Igbo Extraction or killing of any Igbo person in any part of Nigeria henceforth will attract equal amount of retaliation.”

 

“We therefore urge Ndigbo to strongly and boldly defend themselves wherever they find themselves in any part of Nigeria.”

#