By Yemi Adeleye
Lagos – A lawmaker in Lagos state, Mr Tunde Braimoh, has pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to stem the killings in Southern Kaduna before it overblown beyond control.
Braimoh, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, made the plea on Wednesday in Lagos in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He said that paying attention to the emerging crisis in southern Kaduna would save the country the potential danger such mindless killings could cause the nation.
Braimoh said: “I condemn the recent resurgence of killings in Southern Kaduna.
“Kaduna of the 1960s and 1970’s was the definition of a safe cosmopolitan habitat congenial and conducive to all until senseless ethno-religious strife and killings crept in thereby robbing that city of its peace and innocence
“No sooner has one heaved a sigh of relief that the city is regaining it’s traditional and age-long tranquility that this distasteful situation re-emerges.
“It is particularly exasperating that this is coming on the heels of the Nigerian Army’s triumph over Boko Haram.
“It is now looking like escaping the lion but encountering the tiger. It makes the victory over Boko Haram look very pyrrhic.
“I urge Mr President to leave no room for the germination of this seed of destruction being sown in the South of Kaduna.”
Braimoh, who represents Kosofe Constituency II, called for deployment and employment of `decisive military action’ to bring sanity to the state.
He urged the President to ensure that promoters of “the primordial activity were brought to book summarily and exemplary”.
“Nigeria cannot continue to sacrifice its precious and scarce human and material resources on the altar of the mindlessness and senselessness of a few.
“A stitch in time saves not just nine but plenty,” he added.
NAN reports that unknown gunmen had severally attacked some communities in Southern Kaduna populated mainly by Christians recently which led to the death of many while some others injured.
No fewer than 38 persons were killed on Monday night in separate attacks on two villages in Sanga Local Government Area of the state.
The Council Chairman, Mr Emmanuel Adamu told journalists in Sanga that the attacks were carried out simultaneously in Anikpon village in Nandu, and Kabamu Village in Fadan-Karachi.
In May last year, seven people were killed when gunmen attacked a police outpost at Fadan Karshi.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan alleged that the latest attacks in the area claimed 808 lives, with 57 injured.
He also alleged that 53 villages were attacked during the latest attacks.
Adressing newsmen, the Vicar General of the Catholic Archdiocese Ibrahim Yukubu, said that the recent attacks affected four local government areas, 1,422 houses, 16 churches, 19 shops and one primary school destroyed.