Southern Kaduna Crisis: Arewa Youth Group Raises Concern, Call for More Action
AREWA AGENDA – The Arewa Youth Consultative Council, AYCC, has raised concern over the rising incidence of bloodbath, kidnapping, banditry and other crimes in Southern Kaduna State.
While commending Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-rufai for his commitment towards ending crimes and insecurity in the State, the group called for more urgent action to curb the rising threat.
This was contained in a statement Sunday, addressed to the Executive Governor of Kaduna State and sighned by the groups National Secretary General, Prince Oche Solomon Okibe.
Below is text of the statement obtained by Arewa Agenda:
His Excellency,
Mallam Nasiru Ahmad Elrufai,
The Executive Governor of Kaduna State.
Sir,
OUR CONCERN OVER INSECURITY IN SOUTHERN KADUNA STATE AND CALL FOR MORE URGENT ACTION.
Your Excellency, we commend your commitment toward ending crimes and insecurities in Kaduna state and specifically we appreciate your swift imposition of the 24-hour curfew in Zangon Kataf and Kauru local government areas to curve the unpredictable situation. We equally wish to extend our deepest concern over the killings in Southern Kaduna and to submit our thoughts on ways forward.
As a well known fact, the rising incidence of bloodbath, kidnapping, banditry and other crimes are threats facing all people especially those in Southern Kaduna and for everlasting peace and stability; there must be continuous synergy between the Federal and States Security administrators to coopt every segment of the society to a practical and effective discussion that will listen to every stakeholder at the grassroot. The people of Southern Kaduna should be brought to open table, from faith-based NGOs, religious leaders, Community Peace Foundations, traditional rulers, concerned community individuals, security agents, youth groups as well as women groups. These are the community and only them can stop the “behind the scene actions”.
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We equally call on the National Intelligence Agency, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Military based agency, Police Force and Vigilante groups to engage those youth commandants of both Christians, Muslims, Fulani herdsmen and those unknown elements perpetrating crimes against humanity. Southern Kaduna is bleeding and the bloodshed must be stopped now and holistically. We must avoid hate speeches, fake news and bigotry driven contents. We must be conscious of ‘Peace Is the only benefit for all’.
Southern Kaduna and Kaduna in general is our home and we shall always serve as “partners for progress” to the good people of Kaduna State, hoping in the nearest future to come to Kaduna and lead a resolution and synergy in facilitating the peaceful ending of conflict and retribution through town hall discussion and interfaith dialogue session to set foundation for peace and security of Kaduna state. Your Excellency, be assured of our support and prayers to the people of Kaduna State.
We must equally be reminded that crime is a general phenomenon in the North-west and part of North Central where killing, kidnapping and rustling cattle becomes very rampant and we are calling for more drastic measures. We equally wish to encourage our Youths on social media and the media houses to be responsible and God fearing, we must stop painting ethnic and religious colors to the attacks in southern Kaduna so that it doesn’t exacerbate to communal tensions and unpredictable scenarios, these crimes affect everyone irrespective of their religion or ethnicity especially in Giwa, Birnin Gwari and parts of Igabi local government.
We finally wish to call on your Excellency to ensure that the military base and the two mobile police squadrons in that part are supported and encouraged to keep crushing criminal elements which must be given accurate Intelligence information from community and other intelligence agency. This is an urgent call to the political office holders and all the relevant Stakeholders in Arewa to support ending this problem. The sensitivity and strategic nature of Kaduna State calls for emergency action now!. Kindly accept the assurance of our esteemed regards.
Yours Sincerely,
Prince Oche Solomon Okibe,
The National Secretary General.
For:
National President.
Cc:
-Chief of Staff to the President.
-Chairman Northern Governors Forum.
-Chairman Arewa Consultative Forum
Arewa Agenda is a Publication of young writers from Northern Nigeria towards Peaceful Coexistence and National Development through positive narratives.
