…NAS urges FG to urgently arrest southern Kaduna crisis***
…As Christian group begs FG to end banditry, kidnapping, others***
The Katsina State Police Command on Thursday confirmed its men killed two bandits and rescued two kidnapped persons in Dutsinma Local Government Area of the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Gambo Isah, indicated this in a statement issued to newsmen in Katsina, just as the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Pyrates Confraternity called on the Federal Government to urgently arrest the insecurity situation in southern Kaduna.
He said that, on Aug.12, the police area commander in Dutsinma led the Operation Puff Adder to Kwaro Village in Dustin LGA.
According to him, the operation was based on a report that bandits, armed with AK 47 rifles, attacked the village, shot and killed one Mr Mohammed Auwal, kidnapped two persons and rustled unspecified number of domestic animals.
Isah added that the team went after the hoodlums and engaged them in a gun duel.
He said that the team killed two of the bandits, while the rest escaped into the forest with gunshot wounds, abandoning seven motorcycles.
“The two kidnapped persons, Musa Rabiu and Rabiu San, were rescued unhurt,” he said.
Isah said that the police also recovered one empty magazine of AK 47 rifle abandoned by the bandits.
He said that search parties were still combing the area with a view to recovering more dead bodies of the hoodlums or kill more bandits.
In another development, National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Pyrates Confraternity has called on the Federal Government to urgently arrest the insecurity situation in southern Kaduna.
A statement signed by NAS Capoon, Mr Abiola Owoaje, and issued to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday said that the Federal Government needed to urgently avert further deterioration of the area.
According to the Owoaje, there is need for the government to commence the healing process and ordered the release of all innocent youths of southern Kaduna in detention over the crisis.
He said the government should commence the process of releasing those arrested over the crisis on Aug. 8, for a peaceful protest in Kaduna.
The association urged that security agencies should also brace up for professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
He called on security agencies to apprehend all those implicated in the murder of innocent people and the destruction of property, no matter highly placed the person is.
`It is regrettable that Gov. Nasir El-Rufai has not been able to rise above the fray, and that his utterances as the Chief Security Officer of the state have been distasteful,’’ he said.
Owoaje said that the governor had not acted like a leader desirous of bringing the crisis to an end, and the tirades directed at the stakeholders of southern Kaduna had clearly betrayed lack of tolerance.
“We are aware that at the heart of the crisis is the issue of ownership of land which predates the present government in the state, added to this is the dangerous mix of built-up resentment and revenge killings.
“Steps taken so far by the state government have not provided an amicable resolution because it has been largely divisible and unresponsive.
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“The association called on President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to consider the convocation of a peace summit of all stakeholders in southern Kaduna to resolve all lingering disputes pertaining to ownership of land and address issues of mutual suspicion.
“It is the considered view of NAS that the Federal Government needs to take a second look at the reports of the different commission of enquiry set up to look into the crisis.
“And to summon the required political will to implement recommendations in the interest of peace, the people of southern Kaduna deserve to live in peace, enough of tears and blood,’’ the association said.
In a related development, the Fellowship of Churches of Christ in Nigeria also known as the Tarayyar Ekjlesiyoyin Kristi A Nijeriya (TEKAN) has called on the Federal Government to intensify efforts toward ending banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity.
The fellowship made the call in a communique it issued at the end of its executive council meeting on Thursday in Jos.
The communique was signed by Rev. Caleb Ahima and Rev. Moses Ebuga, the group’s President and General Secretary, respectively.
According to the communique, the group also frowns at the rising spate of insurgency and alleged proliferation of weapons in the country, and called on the government to be curb the menace.
The group expressed concern over killings and wanton destruction of property in Southern Kaduna, Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa and other parts of the country.
“We call on the federal and Kaduna State governments to take necessary measures to immediately end the killings.
“We also call on governments and security agencies to be more proactive, practical and visible in the war against insurgents, banditry, kidnapping, proliferation of fire arms and all forms of insecurity,” it said.
The council further called on the federal, Benue and Taraba state governments to adopt measures toward ending Tiv and Jukun crisis.
It also called on the federal government to address the plights of Internally Displaced Persons, urging that efforts should be intensified toward improving peace and security to enable them return to their original places of abode.
It called on Christians, particularly those facing security challenges, to remain steadfast and continue to pray for a peaceful Nigeria.
