Following the religious crisis at Kasuwan Magani in Kajuru Local Government Area, in Kaduna state, no fewer than 65 persons have been arrested, charged to court and are now in remand in prison.
Briefing news men today, Tuesday, on the efforts so far made to bring the crisis to an end, Samuel Aruwan, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir El-Rufai said that 65 persons have been charged before a magistrate’s court in Kaduna, saying that all the suspects have been remanded in Kaduna Prison custody and the case adjourned to the 15th, March 2018.
“After assessing the situation on the ground and preliminary report, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Austin Iwar told journalists, that security agencies have arrested 18 persons in connection with the mayhem. Since then, further arrests have been made.”
Aruwa said that it was in the same Kasuwan Magani the state recorded the first religious violence in 1981, adding that the state government will not relent in vigorously prosecuting the suspects.
The governor’s spokesman said that in response to the latest incident, the state government directed that the security agencies to contain the situation, prevent escalation, investigate the violent incidence, effect arrests and prosecute persons indicted.
“The security agencies have since complied with the directives and security agencies are still carrying out internal security operations in Kasuwan Magani and its environs, stretching from Maraban Rido to Maraban Kajuru”, he said.
“On 27th February 2018, a team from the Kaduna State Security Council visited Kasuwan Magani.
“The team, led by the General Officer Commanding, I Division Nigerian Army, Major General Mohammed Mohammed, included Commissioner of Police Austin Iwar, State Director of Department of State Services, Mohammed Wakil, Commander Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, AM Bunu, Special Adviser on Internal Security, Col. Yakubu Yusuf (rtd) and Samuel Aruwan, Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity.
“The legacy of violence in Kaduna State has been enabled by impunity. This cannot continue. Nobody will be allowed to use religion or ethnicity to justify criminal conduct.
“It is also important to stress that nobody or group has the constitutional right to force other people to embrace their prejudices or beliefs. Matters of faith are the prerogatives of individuals whose voluntary decisions must be respected by all.” [myad]
