The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has disclosed that about 20,000 people have lost their lives to crisis since 1980 in the state.
He made the disclosure on Tuesday when a delegation of the executive team of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, led by its President, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, paid him a solidarity visit in Kaduna on Tuesday.
The governor said the solution to killings in the state was the enforcement of law and prosecution of perpetrators.
El-Rufai, however, observed that apart from the Justice Benedict Okadigbo Tribunal on the Zango-Kataf Religious Crisis, past government had not prosecuted anybody over their involvement in various crises in the state.
Noting that some arrests have been made in connection with the ongoing crisis in the state, El-Rufai vowed to prosecute all those found to be behind the recent killings in the three local government areas of Jema’a, Zango-Kataf and Kaura.
He said, “Since 1980, about 10,000 to 20,000 were killed in Kaduna State during crises and government did not prosecute anybody. We are determined to end the killings in Kaduna. Henceforth, the law will fully apply without fear or favour.
“We have made some arrests and you will be shocked to see the calibre of perpetrators that we are going to prosecute. No matter how highly-placed the person is, we will bring him or her to face the full wrath of the law, to serve as deterrent to others who may want to sponsor crisis.
“Some of the things you are hearing are not true. Some people have made up their minds to spread hatred and falsehood especially in the media. We thank you for your visit to Kaduna. Don’t stop at Kafanchan, go to communities to see things for yourself and also interact with all the stakeholders to have correct and accurate facts. By doing so, your delegation will know the truth. Let me correct this impression, it is not the entire Southern Kaduna that is under attacks, we have problem in three local government areas but crisis in the areas have been brought under.”
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