Kajuru Killings: ADA Wants el-Rufai To Uphold, Respect The Oath To Be Just And Fair
BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – The Adara Development Association (ADA), in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna on Friday challenged Governor Nasir el-Rufai to uphold and respect the oath he swore – to be just and fair to all citizens of the state.
ADA said equity and fairness should at all times remain as the basis for dispensing justice and therefore urged the Kaduna state government to, not only be just and fair to all, but to be seen to be fair. The association in a statement by its National Assistant Secretary, Barrister Godwin Luke Waziri, noted that the same Governor el-Rufai, who rushed to the media on February 15, and joyfully announced an alleged number of people he claimed were killed, has refused to talk on the killings of Adara sons and daughters and the burning of over 100 houses.
According to Waziri; “Governor el-Rufai even gave the number of towns allegedly attack and the gender of those he claimed were killed. Not satisfied, he later increased the casualty figure. However, apart from a terse statement he made when Karmai was attacked, the governor has not said anything, nor visited our place. Not even an assurance that the killers would not go free.
“More so that our leaders and chiefs, in a most humiliating and degrading manner were indiscriminately and unjustly arrested for merely being the victims during last week’s attack.”
ADA accused el-Rufai of displaying non-challant attitude towards the recent mayhem that led to the death of no fewer than 37 persons in Karmai in Maro community by gunmen on Tuesday allegedly by unknown gunmen.
The association said it believed that the attacks were planned and funded by those with enormous connections in the society.
According to the ADA statement; “Our peaceful community of Karmai in Maro woke up on Tuesday 26th, to the sounds of gunshot, burning and looting and when the dust had temporarily settled, 37 people were found killed with some still missing and about 100 houses burnt to the ground. The ones that survived are in various hospitals in Kajuru local government.
“The precision in the attack, the sophisticated arms the merchants of death carried and the military dress-mode, according to those who survived, proves our assertion that this attack on our community was planned and funded by those with enormous connections in our society.
“Despite the fact that our community had no prior quarrel with anyone or anybody in recent time, it has become the theatre of destruction in its hideousness and gruesomeness with dozens now displaced from their ancestral homes and living as IDPs in various villages. We condemn this attack in its totality and urge the security agencies to fish out the killers.
“We condole with all our people who lost their loved ones in Ungwan Barde and Karmai and pray for quick recovery for those injured. We also condole with the Police for the loss of one of their men and commend the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police and the GOC 1 Division for their quick response and gallantry that secured some of our people.”
ADA called for the immediate and unconditional release of the nine Adara leaders and chiefs that were indiscriminately arrested and thrown into prison in what is clearly a one-sided arrests.
ADA insists that those who should be arrested are the ones out there still attacking their communities in broad light.
ADA equally debunked Governor el-Rufai’s statement that there was crisis in Kachia, stressing that the governor’s claim was a complete lie that was made for mischievous reasons.
According to the ADA; “Kachia has been peaceful and shall remain like that. In the midst of these happenings, we earnestly urge our people in Kajuru and all other places, to remain calm and refuse to be provoked into anything no matter the provocation. We have been known as a peaceful people and so we shall continue to be.”
