Southern Kaduna killings: Angry youths shun curfew, attack El-Rufai’s convoy as women protest naked
(Women protesting naked in troubled Southern Kaduna as Governor El-Rufai visited to broker lasting peace on Tuesday)
//Godwin Ekosin, Kaduna, N/w Nigeria
Youths in Southern Kaduna on Tuesday ignored a 24-hour curfew imposed on Kafanchan, the headquarter of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, launched road block as governor Nasir el-Rufai visited the town a day after protest that led to the imposition of the curfew.
The demonstration according to President, Southern Kaduna People’s Union (SOKAPU), Solomon Musa, may not be unconnected to the way and manner the State government was handling the relentless killings of Southern Kaduna natives and the burning down of many villagers by alleged armed herdsmen.
Recalled that the state governor and security Chiefs have visited the area repeatedly, but their visit have not yielded the desire results as killings are taking place in the ara virtually on a weekly basis.
El-Rufai was said to have arrived to meet blockade by angry youths in Garage, Kafanchan, who defied the curfew.
However, the security personnel in his convoy were able to apply minimum force to clear the obstacle and paved way for the governor continue his tour.
Then, after the governor visisted the Emir of Jema’a and later convened a security meeting at the Jemaa LGA Secretariat, bare-breasted women were also deported to have stormed the secretariat to protest the shooting to death of a youth in his house by soldiers yesterday, a source said.
It was also gathered that, the governor’s convoy reached Kagoro-Manchok roundabout about 7km away from the last road block to meet an even heavier roadblock set up by hundreds of youths armed with stones and sticks. A source said that the governor’s motorcade mamange a detour and headed straight to the palace of the Chief of Kagoro about 2km away.
“I later saw a Police Armoured car drove towards the palace. I was told that the governor was ferried in the armour car back towards Kafanchan,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the official resident of the Chairman, Interim Management Committee, IMC, of the Jema’a LGA, Bege Katuka has been set ablaze around 2pm yesterday by rioters mainly natives of the area.
Efforts to speak with Spokesman, Kaduna Police Command, ASP Aliyu Usman to comment on the development could not be established as he did not answer the calls put through his mobile line as at the time of filing this report.