Southern Kaduna: Buhari breaks silence, orders ‘strong action’

THE Presidency, on Thursday, announced that President Muhammadu Buhari has, over the past week, given instructions for decisive measures aimed at bringing an end to the recurring acts of violence and destruction in the Southern part of Kaduna State.

According to a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in Abuja, on the directive of President Buhari, the Inspector-General of Police was in the region on Saturday and Sunday, to assess the situation  firsthand.

It was gathered that in addition to the conventional policemen deployed in the area, a squadron of mobile policemen had now been stationed there.

The statement noted that the Nigerian Army was also in the process of setting up two battalions in Southern Kaduna, while the military continued to carry out air surveillance across flash points of the area.

“President Buhari has equally directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)  to carry out a joint assessment of the situation with the sister agency in Kaduna, SEMA, to determine the level of response required for urgent aid to the victims of the violence.

“These measures should soon ensure the return of normalcy to the region, while the Kaduna State government continues its peace building efforts,” it said.

The president commended efforts of the state government and the security agencies for steps taken so far in curtailing the violence.

The president, once again, sent condolences to the people of Southern Kaduna, who lost loved ones to the recent violence.