El-Rufai talks with community leaders to discuss killings in southern Kaduna

Malam Nasir El-Rufai, the governor of Kaduna State, met behind closed doors on Thursday to discuss the killings in the southern Kaduna area with important stakeholders from the Atyap, Fulani, and Hausa groups.

The meeting also included representatives from the military, police, and other intelligence agencies, as well as observers from foreign organizations and other experts who had been involved in the Southern Kaduna issues’ arbitration and mediation.

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Over the years, there have been concerns with land disputes, kidnappings, and killings. As a result of community leaders accusing one another, violence has recently increased in the Atyap chiefdom in the state’s Zango Kataf Local Government Area.

The gathering was a part of the state government’s final effort to find a long-term solution to the impasse that has for years shaken the state’s southern communities.

Some of the stakeholders highlighted that the concerns discussed would have immediate, long-term, and medium-term solutions in interviews with journalists shortly after the more than four-hour discussion.

They agreed that the discussion was productive and prayed that the next day would bring about a breakthrough.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Meyitti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria’s Kaduna State Chairman, Haruna Usman, told journalists that the parties who had been wronged and attended the conference had decided to resolve their disputes and coexist peacefully.

Intractable conflicts that are roiling the many communities in the southern part of the state, he claimed, could only be resolved via discussion rather than violence.

We are quite concerned about the governor who will be leaving us in a few days, he remarked. We hope to find someone who will pursue the peace initiative in the same way that he is. However, we have decided to resolve our issues.

“Disputes between people should be resolved via discussion rather than violence. Conflicts between people can only be resolved via talk, not with a gun.

Therefore, we are hoping that what we discussed today will serve as a guide and aid in helping us to resolve the situation in our respective sectors in the long run.

“We can’t wait to make sure that our separate neighborhoods are once again peaceful. I will visit Kafanchan the following week to speak with all of my stakeholders about providing the residents of Kafanchan with their full support so they may continue to live in peace.

We talked about how everyone in Southern Kaduna may live in harmony with one another since we realized that talking instead of using guns is the only way to resolve conflicts.

The Atyap, Hausa, and Fulani Communities also promised to settle their problems, according to Salim Musa Umar, Chairman of the Farmers/Herders Association, who also indicated that they will report back to the government in two weeks.

“Peacebuilding is a process, not a one-time thing. Communities have, in fact, proven to be strong enough. As they proceed, any problems should be discussed. It is not a situation that can be rectified in a few days.

The Atyap, Hausa, and Fulani have decided to settle their disputes. They have agreed to give the government a report in a week.

And if they are sincere, I have high hopes that they will work out their disagreements. Musa Salim. President of the farmers/herders association,” he continued.

The easiest and most important message to the people of Southern Kaduna, according to Bature Likoro, chairman of the Southern Kaduna Community Development Association Forum, is for people to understand one another and live in peace.

He commanded, “Let us all understand one another and live in peace.”