Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, Commander of operation safe haven in Kaduna revealed that they have limited manpower to stop Southern Kaduna killings.
Okonkwo spoke to reporters after a security meet up headed over by Governor Nasir el-Rufai, said more soldiers will be deployed in the area to tackle the “criminal elements” answerable for the killings and destruction in the area.
“What we have were attacks on some communities and reprisal attacks. You have Kataf youths, Fulani militias and the criminal elements of both sides.
“Any incident is enough to spark off crisis in that area; there have been lingering disputes and animosities, banditry and cattle rustling there.
“We have reviewed our operations. We are going to close ranks. We are going to be more robust in the days to come. If one or two attacks took place, three were prevented. If you know the area very well, the communities are far and dispersed, they are several kilometres apart from each other. The terrain is difficult to access with vehicles.
“And we have limitation of manpower but of course you know that we are committed. But be that as it may, we are going to get more troops. We are strategizing, we will deploy as much as possible to shorten our response time. Perhaps, we used to respond a bit late, but if we had not responded, we could have had more casualties.”
He also called on all Southern Kaduna people to welcome peace, as a favourable environment will be made for them to meet, dialogue and resolve issues amicably.
