Kaduna state governor, Nasir El- Rufai on Tuesday admitted that no fewer than 130 persons were killed in the communal clashes in Maro, Kajuru Local Government and not 60 as he previously announced.
“The last report we got is that over 130 people were killed not even 66 and the Fulani leaders have provided the names of all these people. We have the list, we can release it to the Press and I don’t want to be gross but we can release pictures of the people killed and how soldiers have to be there to help bury them, two days after they were killed because the bodies were decomposing. Whoever still doubts that this did not happen is being grossly irresponsible,” El-Rufai said.
Speaking to State House correspondents after briefing a security meeting, presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, El-Rufai stated that: “the latest report shows that over 130 people were killed, not even 60. We have the list and we will release it to the media. The affected communities have provided us with the names of those that were killed.” The governor said names and photographs of those killed would soon be made available to the press.
The governor had on Friday through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Samuel Aruwan, disclosed that 66 people were killed by unknown attackers in Kajuru Local Government Area. El-Rufai said the killing was a deliberate plan to wipe out a certain community. He did not mention any sponsors of the attack. El-Rufai, who added that anybody questioning whether or not the attack took place was grossly irresponsible, assured that the perpetrators of the killings would face the full wrath of the law.
Also, Kaduna state police commissioner, Ahmad Abdulrahman, said a total of 11 suspects have been arrested in connection with the killings. According to Abdulrahman, “Initially we arrested eight people and additional three have been arrested. More facts are coming out. We want to do the needful before taken the suspects to court.”
El-Rufai, who alongside the governors of Borno and Adamawa briefed members of the security committee on security situations in their respective states, took a swipe at individuals and organizations including the Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU) and Human Rights Lawyer, Chidi Odinkalu, who had questioned the initial casualties’ figures of 66. However, after the Security Council meeting presided over by President Buhari in Abuja, El-Rufai said the number of casualties was reviewed upward.
The Security Council meeting, which lasted for an hour, was attended by El-Rufai, Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa), Kashim Shettima (Borno) and members of the country’s national security chiefs. The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who also spoke to the correspondents, said the police were ready to protect eligible Nigerians following resolutions at the meeting that adequate security be provided within the country.
Adamu said: “Today, members of the security community and intelligence community came and briefed Mr. President on the security situation in the country. “We deliberated on the consequences and came up with the resolve to further provide adequate security within the country so that the electorate will come out and cast their votes without any fear of molestation. Every Nigerian is encouraged to come out on the Election Day and cast his or her vote without any fear of molestation,” he said.
According to him, security personnel are ready and prepared to protect everybody. He further warned that: “ballot snatching, ballot buying, thuggery will never be allowed, anybody that is planning to snatch ballot boxes or planning to be used as a tout, will have his or herself to blame on the Election Day. So you better don’t allow yourself to be used.”
