Group commends Buratai, El-Rufai

The Northern Christian Youth Assembly has commended the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai for laying the foundation for the building of a military barracks in Kafanchan in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Christian Youth Assembly also commended Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai for his part in finding a solution to the Southern Kaduna crisis.

The statement was signed by Peter Bawa who is the National Chairman of the group.

According to the group, the "development would go a long way to curtail the menace of maurading killers that have plunged too many communities in the area into mourning.

"We see the building of a military formation in the area as a way of shortening troops' deployment time and ensuring that troublemakers within that vicinity are given a hot chase and no longer have anywhere to torment the peace of the people.

"For us, General Buratai's prompt implementation of the barracks project as approved by the President and Commander in Chief is a demonstration of the administration's sincere commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property of all citizens irrespective of political or religious leanings.

"It has gone a long way to again show that we truly have responsible and decisive leadership that is willing and able to confront any emerging evil to ensure Nigerians can live in peace to enjoy their own country.

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"While we remain confident in the ability of the Nigerian Army which is one of the best in the world to bring perpetrators of all the deadly attacks around that vicinity to justice within the shortest period of time, the subsequent completion of the barracks would further boost the confidence of the people in the neighborhood in the military of their country".

The group asked those politicizing the crisis in Southern Kaduna to desist from doing so.

"Those politicizing and attempting to give the Southern Kaduna crisis a religious coloration would do well to now hold their fire and allow the mechanisms for peaceful resolution put in place by the state Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai to yield fruits for the overall benefit of the Nigerian state.

"We commend Governor el-Rufai for these initiative even as we appeal to him not to be discouraged by seeming misunderstanding of his good intentions for the people of Kaduna state.

"Meanwhile, we urge the Nigerian Army not to hesitate in arresting and investigating anyone linked to arming any side of the conflict irrespective of their status in the society or religious affiliation. In addition, we appeal to the Federal Government not to allow anyone fished out as being culpable in the attacks to escape justice irrespective of what roles they had played or are playing in the government.

"Nigerians would like to hear the last of these senseless killings so that citizens, especially those engaged in agriculture, can go back to earning their livelihood while making valuable contributions to the economy at this time when the country is pursuing diversification".