Kaduna: ‘This Must Stop,’ Buhari Fumes Over Mass Killings

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday expressed annoyance over the wanton killing of Kaduna residents by hoodlums, saying “this must stop”.

President Buhari who spoke during his visit to the troubled state this morning vowed to ensure that perpetrators of the latest killings are dealt with.

The president’s visit to Kaduna followed the tragic loss of lives and property in Kasuwan Magani and other parts of the state. At least 55 people were killed recently in the state as a result of ethno-religious crisis.

According to the the Special Adviser to the President Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Mr Buhari met with senior government officials, security chiefs, traditional rulers, religious, political and community leaders at the Musa Yar’Adua Sports Complex during his visit to the state.

The president said, ‘‘If in the past, they got away scot-free, we shall now hold everyone to account for these latest killings.

‘‘It is unacceptable that criminal elements can visit on citizens the wanton killings recorded in the Kasuwan Magani incident of 18th October 2018 and the unrest around Kaduna metropolis a few days later. This must stop.

‘‘The Nigerian police are in the frontline of securing communities. For the judiciary, unless the investigations are credible and rapidly done, there is nothing they can do. From now on the Nigeria police, you better watch it, I am going to watch you closely,’’ the President said.

Adesina said the President also “pleaded with community leaders including ward heads, village heads and traditional rulers to be closer to their people and not to shield those who are planning to wreak havoc on the community from law enforcement agencies.”

He quoted Buhari as saying, ‘‘Violence shatters and divides people and stifles the prospect of any community that succumbs to its tragic logic.

‘‘The Federal Government commends the efforts of the Kaduna State Government in responding to and managing the crisis. More Federal Security assets are being provided at the request of the Kaduna State Government to help uphold and keep the peace.

‘‘The Federal Government will continue to work to ensure that more security assets are recruited and deployed across the country to protect all citizens going about their lawful business and to reinforce the authority of the government.

‘‘On their part, Citizens also have a duty to be law-abiding in their conduct and within their communities. There is a need to avoid violence as a tool of negotiation or obtaining advantage, and learn to listen to each other and commit to resolving differences through peaceful means.

‘‘Kaduna, once the home of the Premier and home of the New Nigerian must not earn itself a new name – home of violence. The Federal Security Agencies will hunt and prosecute all those who sponsored these acts of violence.

Noting that individuals and communities have obligations to comply with the law and uphold peace, the President said: ‘‘these obligations include respecting the rights of others to live wherever they choose, to worship freely and to pursue lawful livelihoods anywhere in this country. These are constitutional and human rights that we as a government and people must uphold and defend.’

‘‘Providing decent education and health are my priority goals. I am delighted with the successful collaboration between federal institutions like the Bank of Industry and the Kaduna State Government to provide vocational and entrepreneurship skills, and low-interest credit to expand economic opportunities.

‘‘I observed that more than 75 people were killed in Kaduna alone and I haven’t seen anything about it.

‘‘It means we are pushing ourselves as a nation and a people towards irrelevance, seen by the world itself,’’ he said.