Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i has denied paying Fulani herdsmen to instigate the Southern Kaduna crisis.
His media aide Samuel Aruwan, at a news conference yesterday, reiterated that El-Rufai did not pay the herdsmen, to either appease or arm them, as widely reported in the media.
The Senator representing Kaduna South, Danjuma La’ah, accused El-Rufai of paying the Fulani herdsmen for killing his constituents.
According to Aruwan, El-Rufai has continued with the peace efforts of former Governor Patrick Yakowa, and will do whatever is legitimate to secure lasting peace in the area.
He noted that the late Yakowa tried to foster reconciliation with affected Fulani communities, to stem the spiral of vengeance and reprisals.
“Yakowa’s efforts were not sustained after his death and violence persisted. When it became our responsibility to provide security for the state, we re-established these contacts so that those who felt they lost in the 2011 violence could let go.
“The quest for peace and the imperative of stemming human suffering require leaders to explore conventional and unusual means to build peace. That is why the Kaduna State government is combining security action with dialogue and peace-building efforts in Southern Kaduna,” Aruwan said.
