Governor El-Rufai Accused of Paying Killer Fulani Herdsmen Finally Speaks

Governor Nasir El-Rufai has said he has no hand in the killing of innocent Christians in the Southern part of Kaduna by Fulani herdsmen.

Governor Nasir El-Rufai

 

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, on Tuesday described those linking him with killings in Southern part of the state as mischief makers, reports The Nation.

 

According to El-Rufai, he is neither a religious bigot nor ethnic jingoist who will organise crisis in his state. The Governor however called on the Federal Government to provide more funds for the security agencies to enable them appropriately tackle internal security challenges.

 

While speaking when he received the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Southern Kaduna Crisis at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House on Tuesday, the Governor briefed the Senate Committee led by former Governor of Kano State, Kabir Gaya, and said his government inherited three main problems of cattle rustling, urban gang called “Shara Suka” and communal killings.

 

The Governor had been accused by Apostle Johnson Suleman of shielding Fulani herdsmen who have been murdering innocent citizens in Southern Kaduna. The Governor was also accused of paying the killer herdsmen money in order to stop the killings which many criticized him for as they insisted he should have handed the killers to the police.

 

He said, “When we came in we met three main problems on ground, cattle rustling, urban gang and communal killings.

“As the chief security officer of the state, we really do not have control over the security agencies, we have committed so much in funding security agencies in the state. We have bought bullet proof vest and vans for security agencies. We have committed N4 billion in support of security agencies in the state.

“The state government will continue to support the security agencies in the state even though it is the responsibility of the federal government.”

 

He, however, called for additional support for security agencies in the 2017 budget, saying, “there is need for training and retraining of security personnel and the purchase of additional security equipment.”

 

On the Southern Kaduna killings, the Governor assured the Senate that he would deploy resources to facilitate the take-off of the proposed military garrison in the area.