The Nigerian Army says it has recovered arms and ammunition from Fulani herdsmen and the villagers in Southern Kaduna, as part of efforts to end the crisis in the area.
The General Officer Commanding, 1 Division, Kaduna State, Maj. Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, said this in an interview, adding that the army had been engaging the two warring parties in dialogue.
He said the army authorities had also approved two battalions to be stationed in Southern Kaduna for as long as possible.
Oyebade said, “We have presently mopped up arms from the Fulani herdsmen and the locals. Our operations based on intelligence gathering are still ongoing and we are also working with the Department of State Services.
“As it is well known, the army has approved two battalions to be stationed in Southern Kaduna. One of them is in Kafanchan. So, we are not leaving. We will be there for as long as it’s necessary.
“We have other fundamental issues in the area, which the political leadership needs to resolve. The governor has engaged various stakeholders and as our operations continue, peace is returning.
“People are returning to their villages. However, it will take some time for them to calm down. They are repairing their burnt houses and they are also clearing their farmlands. We have assured them of maximum protection on their farms, and also for the Fulani herdsmen when they need to lead their cows for grazing.”
Meanwhile, the 24-hour-curfew imposed on three Local Government Areas in Southern Kaduna in the wake of an attack on the convoy of the state Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, was on Wednesday relaxed by the State Security Council.
The three local governments are Zangon-Kataf, Kaura and Jema’a.
However, the 24-hour curfew remained in effect in Kaura Local Government.
The Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to Governor Nasir el-Rufai, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, in a statement, said the curfew in Jema’a and Zangon Kataf Local Government Areas was relaxed to 12 hours (from 6pm to 6am).
Those on essential services such as medical and health personnel, he said, were exempted from the curfew.
He noted that the decision to relax the curfew was based on the security council’s observation of improved security situation in Jema’a and Zangon Kataf LGAs.
