Forum Decries CP Abeh’s Comments Over Southern Kaduna Crisis

* Implement 2014 National Conference Report To End Crisis -SOKAPU Youths
BY AMOS DUNIA (KADUNA)
The Southern Kaduna Unity and Peace Forum (SKUPF) on Monday expressed dismay with the statement of the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Agyole Abeh for downplaying the endemic evil that has engulfed Southern Kaduna since last year.
In a press statement, signed by Dr. Daniel Kafwoi Bobai and Halima Gandu James, chairman and secretary of the forum, the group said, “It is with shock and consternation that we observed the rigorous efforts of Kaduna State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Agyole Abeh to denigrate and downplay the endemic evil that has engulfed Southern Kaduna since April last year.
“Abeh’s has put on a concerted campaign in the print and electronic media last week to say that the casualty figures in the ongoing genocide against native people of Southern Kaduna is exaggerated and that some community leaders were benefitting from the mass slaughter of their people and the destruction of their communities by armed herdsmen.
“This is a very unfortunate statement and in the least, very disturbing, that the man tasked with the onerous responsibility of protecting the beleaguered people of Southern Kaduna would come so low to speak in the same tune with the enemies of the place.
“The statements are not only infuriating to the family members of hundreds of people killed, scores maimed into disability forever, thousands of widows and widowers, scores of communities totally destroyed, it is also a very inciting statement.
“The depressing aspect of this is that while the communities have been able to bring the figures of those killed to over 800 last year, the police, which is statutorily supposed to give out the fatality figures, have failed to do so till date.
“It is also equally very provocative and inciting for the police commissioner to affirm assertively that some community leaders are benefiting from the tragedy of their own people without mentioning who are these leaders; how they have benefitted and by how much have they profited from the pogrom.
“This has the potential of creating confusion and suspicion among the people of Southern Kaduna towards their leaders. It is also another means of discrediting our community leaders in the eyes of the world as dubious persons.
“He did not mention the Fulani militants who Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna state has proudly said that he pays sums of money as compensation to stop the killings in Southern Kaduna.
“Does Mr Abeh know if the same paid herdsmen are among others still carrying this killings for more compensations? So who indeed are the beneficiaries of these evil?
“Curiously CP Agyole Abeh showed little or no empathy for his four officers killed last week in Kafanchan in the same crisis that he says are exaggerated.
“He did not even mention how these police men under him paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their fatherland. Perhaps if he mentioned their murder he would not be to down play the extend of the massacre in Southern Kaduna. Is this the stuff that CPs are made of?
“What moral right does the CP has to prosecute anyone for making ‘unpleasant’ comments on Southern Kaduna killings if he could so go public and cast a banner allegation over some Southern Kaduna community leaders after showing has taken side?
“If they are trying to use him, to rewrite the tragedy as reprisal, we need to inform him that the shinning sad, truth of our situation cannot be painted with the dark brush of lies and deceit.
“What is happening in Southern Kaduna has nothing to do with reprisals. It is a clear attempt to wipe out natives of Southern Kaduna and the evidence screams to heaven.
“We are the victims and we are ready to do whatever legal means it would take to get succor. We and our leaders have nothing to gain than pains, tears and sorrows in the ongoing cruelty targeted against us.
“On this strength, we wish to state that CP Agyole Abeh does not seem to possess a fair mind to pursue our security. We plead with the Nigeria Police Authority to remove him from Kaduna state. We have lost confidence in him.
“We also call on our communities to do everything possible to respect the law and not be incited by the unfortunate comments of any unsympathetic person.
“Mr. Agyole Abeh should seek the forgiveness of God and submit his life to Christ. For everything in this life shall perish. When he gets to meet with his creator like everyone, only the good work he has done here will decide where he ends his eternity.”
Meanwhile, the National Youth Wing of Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) has observed that the only panacea to the ongoing crisis in the area is for federal government to commence the implementation of the report of the 2014 National Conference.
A communiqué issue at the end of its National Congress in Kachia also endorsed calls by well meaning Nigerians for the establishment of Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) in their area.
“We agree to unanimously initiate and operationalize a community watch project to replicate that of the North East and Kaduna metropolis civilian joint task force towards effective policing of the Southern Kaduna communities.
“In appraisal of the Southern Kaduna security breach, we understand that our challenge is inadequate structure of formations and command of the Nigerian Police Force in Southern Kaduna.
“We plead with the Federal and government of Kaduna State to halt the ongoing project on the establishment of grazing reserve or operations of same in Southern Kaduna as our communities have equivocally rejected the siting of such facilities in our land. We are however open to other agric businesses being driven by the Federal Government through the Agricultural Promotion Policy (APP).
“To initiate and support litigations to challenge the impunity with which the Governor of Kaduna State has refused to adhere to the court ruling on local government elections in the state.
“It is also in the interest of this congress to advice the governor against the intended tactics to appeal on the ruling, long after two months of inaction as feet dragging effort to short change the people of their rightful mandate.
“We also decry the monumental corruption ongoing in the state where monies belonging to the local government such as excess crude revenues, value added tax, federal allocations fail to impact positively in communities across the state due to the overbearing possessiveness of the state.
“We call on the humanitarian agencies, Non-Governmental Organizations and other agencies of government to join in the efforts SOKAPU is making through her relief materials committee towards alleviating the sufferings and malnutrition challenges facing Internally Displaced Persons in Southern Kaduna.
“In pursuance of economic growth we call on all Southern Kaduna people to invest in their land in agriculture, media, industries, security and other entrepreneurial pursuits.”