People with myopic agenda are cashing on the present security challenges to destroy the country, and government and leaders must fully exercise their power to stop this, Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai, has said.
He said this in a statement on Wednesday.
The government statement is coming against the backdrop of ethnic profiling, eviction order and attacks on Fulani herders by groups in the South West, led by one Sunday Igboho, and with the support of some Yoruba leaders.
El-Rufai said governments and security agencies must rein in all non-state actors, tackle hateful rhetoric and protect all communities, adding that those that engage in criminal acts must be arrested and brought to justice regardless of their ethnic or religious persuasion.
“We should not allow the criminal actions of insurgents and bandits to tear our country apart,” he said.
“We should not be seduced into the dangerous passion of blaming innocents, declaring them guilty of the crimes of others, evicting them, killing and destroying their property. In difficult times, we must uphold the right of everyone to live, with security and safety. The frenzy of ethnic labelling makes solutions difficult and can only guarantee disorder, violence and pain… We cannot quench one fire by setting more places ablaze.”
El-Rufai appealed to other governors to make statements that will “disavow these attacks and massacres.”
He urged people living in Kaduna state to respect law and order and the rights of all citizens to live in peace and security wherever they reside or work.
