The
recent crisis in Southern Kaduna which has seen many innocent Nigerians
slaughtered in cold blood, is about to end after the Nigerian Army on
Wednesday, launched a special operation in the state.
COAS, Tukur Buratai
The Nigerian Army on Wednesday began a special military exercise in Southern Kaduna code-named “Operation Harbin Kunama II” – Scorpion Sting, to checkmate farmers/herdsmen and ethno-religious crises in the area.
The three-decade-old crisis mostly occurred in Kaura, Kafanchan and Zango-Kataf Local Government Areas.
The operation, which is also to flush out bandits and cattle
rustlers, will be extended to parts of Plateau, Kano and Bauchi states.
Speaking at the event, the Chief of Army Staff Lt.-Gen. Tukur
Buratai called on the people of the area to maintain the peace and avoid
reprisal attacks.
Buratai said the operation was to ensure security and safety of the people.
He said that the first phase of Operation Harbin Kunama was conducted in parts of Kaduna and Zamfara States in 2016.
The Army chief assured that the military would always assist civil authority to contain any crisis and stop it from escalating.
Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, who graced the occasion, expressed happiness
that two Army Forward Operation Bases were being established in Southern
Kaduna in response to the agitation for such outfits in last 20 years.
The governor recalled that the crisis in that part of the state had
dragged on for 37 years, adding that the most recent one began in May
2016.
According to him, the crisis has attracted the highest attention because it had been given religious colouration.
El-Rufai, however, said with the conduct of operation Harbin Kunama
II and establishment of two forward operation bases in Kafanchan and
Kachia local government areas, the activities of armed criminals would
be checkmated in the state.
He vowed that the state government would not negotiate with
sponsors and perpetrators of the crisis, but would identify, arrest and
prosecute them.
The governor stressed that this was one of the three steps the state had adopted to put an end to the crisis.
He said the others were military operations and the process to make the people embrace peace.
El-Rufai called on traditional and religious leaders in the state to play leading roles in that regard.
-NAN
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