El-Rufai Flays Destruction Of Barrack Foundation in Zangon Kataf

…SOKAPU Condemns Arrest of Innocent Persons Over Killings
By Amos Tauna, Kaduna
The Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai on Saturday condemned the destruction of the foundation- laying structure of the proposed Nigerian Army Battalion in Kafanchan, in the southern part of the state.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai and Governor El-Rufai, had last week laid the foundation for the establishment of the battalion at Ungwan Yashi area of Zangon Kataf Local Government to combat incessant killings in Southern Kaduna.
In a press statement signed by the governor’s Special Assistant on Media, Sam Aruwan, quoted El-Rufai as saying, “I received the news with shock over the unfortunate destruction of foundation laying structure of the proposed Nigerian Army battalion in Southern Kaduna. The very structure we erected to establish the long-awaited Army Barracks to assist promotion of peace and end the decades of senseless bloodletting in the southern part of Kaduna State.
“The situation is unfortunate, condemnable and a setback to the government’s communal stabilization and peace building efforts, but we will not be deterred. We urge our people that cherish peaceful coexistence to continue to be resilient, focused and resolute in overcoming antics of forces of darkness and evil. Those that did this are determined to derail the contributions of the security agencies, having failed to spread their tentacles of hate, bigotry and penchant for divisiveness.
“I want to use this medium to appeal to all men and women of conscience to remain firm and optimistic, while government in collaboration with security agencies, civil society, religious and traditional institutions will continue to work assiduously for peace and security of life and property.”
The governor promised to bring to book all those behind the destruction of the foundation-laying structure.
Meanwhile, The Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) also on Saturday joined the state governor to condemn the destruction of the foundation-laying structure, just as it noted with concern what it described as the one-sided speed with which some people from Southern Kaduna were being arrested and paraded as ‘masterminds’ of the genocidal killings in the area.
Accordingly, SOKAPU urged security agencies to get the right suspects and not some innocent people picked at random and later paraded without due investigation.
SOKAPU’s position was contained in a statement signed by its National Public Relations Officer, Mr. Kakubu Kuzamani, in which it strongly condemned the vandalisation of the military barracks foundation laying structure in every ramification.
The statement read in part; “The attention of the union has been drawn to a statement from the Kaduna State Government on the destruction of the foundation laying structure of a proposed military barrack near Kafanchan.
“As an organization that has been vigorously pursuing an increased presence of the military in an area deliberately neglected and abandoned for a long time, we totally frown at such acts of recklessness.
“SOKAPU will not support any acts that could break the law and will continue to call on all Southern Kaduna people, irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliations, to abide by the laws of the lands and never to break the laws.
“SOKAPU stands on its quest for justice and fairness, anchored on the peaceful approach to all solution bedeviling our region and would not stand aloof and watch such acts being truncated by anyone.
“With the one-sided speed that some in Southern Kaduna are being arrested and paraded as the ‘masterminds’ of the genocidal killings in Southern Kaduna, we urge the security agencies to ensure they get the right suspects and not some innocent people picked at random and later paraded without due investigation.
“We still reiterate our stand as a peaceful organization, speaking for the peace-loving people of Southern Kaduna, irrespective of tribe or religion and would not stand and allow acts that could embolden our aggressors and their supporters to wrongly and mischievously continue to allude to some personality in Southern Kaduna as crisis entrepreneurs.”