The Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has accused Governor Nasir el-Rufai of making up the story of the killing of 66 persons in the Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.
CAN Chairman in the state, Rev. Joseph Hayab, stated that El-Rufai intended to deceive Nigerians and the international community, hence the release of a false story.
A statement released by Kaduna CAN described El-Rufai’s move as “an illogical intentional, premeditated attempt at stirring violence in the state for whatever expected gains. The incidence of raising false alarm by the Kaduna State Government should make Nigerians realise that some of our leaders are also guilty of hate speech and that makes them major actors in the game that has denied us peace and has claimed the lives of our love ones”.
Senator Shehu Sani whose constituency covers the Kajuru area said, “What the people of the area told me was that the issue happened since Sunday and the security agencies waded in and resolved it immediately. There was no tension that can threaten peace in the area.”
Zonal Coordinator, North-West office of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Ishaya Chonoko, also told Punch Newspaper that there were “no fresh killings in Kajuru LGA” as announced by El-Rufai.
Chonoko said, “It is not true that 66 people were killed in Kaduna State. I am in Kaduna now and I can confirm to you that I am not aware of any 66 people that were killed in Kajuru Local Government Area by any unknown gunmen.
“There was an attack last week (Sunday) where 11 people were said to have been killed. It was the usual tribal clash between the Fulani and the indigenes. Anytime there is a clash between two tribes in Kaduna, there is usually reprisal.
“We made necessary contacts only to discover that it was merely a rumour to instigate violence. Please disregard it. It is not true at all.”
