Southern Kaduna: MURIC Demands Stronger Security Presence

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), an NGO, has called for the deployment of joint security task force to stop the incessant killings in Southern Kaduna.

The Director of the group, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, gave the advice on Monday in a statement.

Akintola said, the measures will go along way in curtailing the ethno-religious killings and other forms of criminality been perpetuated in the area.

The group however condemned the recent killings of some youths in Zangon Kataf, which according to him violated the peace agreement initiated by the Agwa Atyap, Sir Dominic Yahaya between the Atyap and Hausa/Fulani.

“MURIC strongly condemns these killings and attacks on law-abiding Muslims. We call for stronger presence of security agents.

"It is high time soldiers are drafted to Southern Kaduna to enforce law and order.

"We advocate long term military presence until the inhabitants of Southern Kaduna learn how to peacefully coexist.” he said.

He said, the group was formed to promote peace and dialogue.

"As an organization whose motto is ‘Dialogue, No Violence’, we frown at violence in all its ramifications.

"We are fully committed to a peaceful approach to the Southern Kaduna crisis, we therefore call on both parties to sheath their swords,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed additional special forces to southern Kaduna, to boost the ongoing fight against bandits and suspected ethnic militia who have been terrorising residents of the area.

READ ALSO: Southern Kaduna: 'Stop Igniting Ethno-Religious Differences' - Sultan Of Sokoto

The Air Officer Commanding, NAF Training Command, Air Marshal Musa Mukhtar, asked the team of security operatives, numbering 32 and trained in all aspects of counter-insurgency operations, to crush the bandits.

The deployment of additional troops comes as the military steps up operation to combat the rising cases of attacks by bandits and suspected ethnic militia in the area.

Also, on August 14, the military deployed Special Operations Forces to curb the recent attacks and isolated killings in the southern part of Kaduna State.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Defence Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche said that troops of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) had continued to intensify efforts aimed at securing lives and property in the area.

He said: “Particularly, Special Operations Forces have been deployed to the Joint Operations Area covering the various flash points.

"This move is expected to achieve the desired result with the provision of credible and actionable intelligence specifically from primary sources.

(NAN)