Former Head of State and All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari has cancelled his condolence visit to Bondong, Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Buhari, who was scheduled to visit the families of the 120 victims of a recent attack in the area, jettisoned his itinerary because of Wednesday’s attack in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of the state.
The attack, which led to the death of two men, occurred when the deceased tried to resist a mob from handing out jungle justice to 32 Fulani men arrested by the Army with weapons in the area.
Following the incident, a 24-hour curfew was slammed on the area to forestall reprisal attacks. The curfew was imposed by the local government chairman, Daniel Amos who said he secured permission of the state government before taking the action.
According to sources, when news that soldiers on routine patrol in the area had arrested some men with weapons reached the town, some youths gathered and insisted that they must be released to them.
Yashim Bonnat, a youth leader in Kafanchan, said he saw the arrested men and the weapons retrieved from them. He swore that they were Fulanis.
“I was around the Railway Junction of Kafanchan town. Youths surrounded an office around here, where soldiers were keeping 32 Fulani men that they caught this morning around 10am while trying to fuel their truck”, Bonnat said.
“I saw with my eyes the weapons recovered from them. They include 12 AK riffles, about 13 den guns, a bag of ammunition, all kinds of machetes, knives, and what looks like improvised explosives, among others. They were displaying the arms, and they made the men to seat in front of them. No one needs tell you that they are Fulani men.
“They said the men were coming to attack Kafanchan and that it was God that apprehended them. So they wanted the soldiers to release them to be lynched by them”.
Spokesman of the Kaduna State Police Command, DSP Aminu Lawan comfirmed the incident but said he was not in a position to comment on the issue since it was the Army that made the arrest.
“It is the Army that arrested the people”, he said. “It is the Army that is said to have shot people. They have not briefed us. I cannot speak for them”.
Assistant Director, Army Public Relations Office of the One Mechanised Infantry Division, Kaduna, Col.Usman Abdul said though he heard of the arrests and the violence in Kafanchan, he had not been sufficiently briefed to make any statement to thepress. He asked for more time.
Reacting to the incident, Governor of the state, Mukthar Ramalan Yero implored residents of the area to remain calm and law-abiding, assuring them that the government will continue doing all within its powers to sustain peace in the entire state.
A statement signed by Director General, Media and Publicity to the Governor, Ahmed Maiyaki affirmed the governor’s commitment to working hard to keep the situation under control. The statement urged the people to desist from jungle justice, as it only breeds confusion and anarchy.
The statement revealed that security operatives have intensified surveillance across the state aimed at foiling any attempt by miscreants and criminals to attack innocent citizens in the area. it called on all law-abiding citizens to cooperate with Government and the Security agencies in the ongoing push to rid the state of hoodlums and evil perpetrators.
“This is not the time for people to obstruct the course of justice by attempting to perpetrate barbaric acts of jungle justice. Government and indeed security forces will never fold their arms and allow people take laws into their hands”, a part of it read.
“We want to assure the entire people of Kaduna State that in our resolve to end the spate of unwarranted attacks on innocent citizens, the government will continue to work with security agencies to ensure that those behind the various killings in the state are brought to justice. This will be vigorously pursued without fear or favour”.
