Governor El – Rufai of Kaduna state has linked the recent killings in Kajuru LGA of the state to attempts to wipe out people in the area.
The Governor said the killings which took place in settlements of Ruga Bahago, Ruga Daku, Ruga Ori, Ruga Haruna, Ruga Yukka Abubakar, Ruga Duni Kadiri, Ruga Shewuka and Ruga Shuaibu Yau, were deliberate
Speaking with State House Correspondents in Abuja on Tuesday the Governor said arrest have been made according to the last security briefing he received adding that “ some of those arrested were scheduled to be arraigned in court today.
“The arrests continue because the more the more the police dig into this matter, the more it is clear that there was a deliberate plan to wipe out certain communities.
“It is not accidental, it is not spontaneous, it is a plan, it is akin to genocide and the more the police dig into the matter, more arrest will be made. And the suspects are being prosecuted.
He described the action as the handiwork of criminal elements adding that “ a crime is a crime”, in response to question whether the killings were politically motivated
“The motive, the undertone doesn’t border me. There may be, there may be not. Whether it is political or not, when you kill someone, it is my duty to prosecute you for homicide.
“When you destroy property, it is my duty to prosecute you for the destruction of property. If you engage in hate speech, it is my duty to ensure that you are prosecuted for injurious falsehood and incitement.
“So, we are not looking at undertones, people can attribute political motives to it, but as a government, we have no such doctrine. We have to just prosecute everyone on equal opportunity basis.”
Governor El- Rufai dismissed claims that the killings were fabricated saying that “ those questioning whether these attacks took place or not is being grossly irresponsible.
“I think as the governor of the state, and everyone knows me and my records of public service. I would not be irresponsible enough to stand before the media and say something has happened that has not happened. I don’t work based on telephone calls for rumours.
El- Rufai, while also speaking on President Buhari shoot on sight order, noted that the directive was aimed at discouraging electoral malpractices, adding that “ if you engage in ballot snatching and so on, he has given the security agencies appropriate orders to deal with you. If you have no such plans, why are you afraid.
“I intend to go out and vote and go home and when they are ready for counting, I will come out. I have no intention to snatch ballot, so if you put one million soldiers with guns on the street, they will not shoot at me because I have no intention.
He however reiterated that those “questioning the president’s stance means that they had an agenda”
“While some of us are working very hard to put a security infrastructure in place, for free, fair and credible elections, some people are planning something else. And that is why they are all over the place wailing and saying that the President has said this and done that. If you have no have plans to do that, shut up because, if you speak, we will know that that was your plan.”
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
