Media reports are ‘not balanced’, the violence in Southern Kaduna involves ‘both sides’ —Army

The Nigerian Army on Tuesday described the ongoing violence in Southern Kaduna as reprisal attacks carried out by Kataf youths, Fulani militias and the criminal elements in the area.

The Commander of Operation Safe Haven, Chukwuemeka Okonkwo who disclosed this to journalists at the end of a security meeting held at the Government House in Kaduna Tuesday, dismissed reports the violence was ethnic cleansing.

The meeting was attended by Governor Nasir El-Rufai and representatives of security agencies in the state.

More than 50 persons have been killed in Southern Kaduna in the last few weeks.

READ ALSO: End Southern Kaduna killings or resign, group tells Buhari, El-Rufai

Okonkwo said: “What we have were attacks on some communities and reprisal attacks.

“The reports are not balanced. Perhaps, most of the media houses don’t know, both sides are actually involved.

‘’You have Kataf youths, Fulani militias and the criminal elements of both sides. Some people are also leveraging on the security situation to perpetuate their criminal activities, aside communities involved in the crisis.

“Any incident is enough to spark off crisis in that area. There have been lingering disputes, animosities, banditry and cattle rustling there.’’

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now