The Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have reacted to claims by Governor Nasir El-Rufai that 66 persons were killed in Kajuru Local Government Area of the state.

A statement issued on Saturday by Rev. Joseph Hayab on behalf of CAN said Governor El-Rufai lied about the killings to deceive Nigerians and the international community and to stir up violence in the state. 

“The press statement by the spokesman for Kaduna State Governor, Mr. Samuel Aruwan, suggests that the killings in Kajuru Local Government were carried out yesterday (Friday) 15/2/2019. This is false in its entirety.

“We are aware that the incident happened in the late hours of Sunday, 10 February to February 12, 2019 at about 1.am at Gindin Gada in the Maro Ward of Kajuru Local Government, Kaduna State where unidentified hoodlums went into the village and killed about 11 people in their sleep.

“The incident led to reprisals. Two of the suspects were said to have been apprehended and handed over to the Divisional Police Officer in the area.

“It was in the afternoon of the said date of the attack (as contained in the press statement) that the District Head of Kufana, Mr. Titus Dauda and four of his local chiefs were released after their invitation by the Department of State Services.

“We see this as an illogical, intentional, premeditated attempt at stirring violence in the state for whatever expected gains.

“The incidence of raising false alarm by the Kaduna State Government should make Nigerians realize that some of our leaders are also guilty of hate speech and that makes them major actors in the game that has denied us peace and has claimed the lives of our love ones,” the statement read.

The Zonal Coordinator, North-West office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Ishaya Chonoko also revealed that there were no fresh killings in Kajuru on Friday as claimed by the governor.

Chonoko added that the rumours of the killings were peddled by some unpatriotic Nigerians who were out to take advantage of the general elections to instigate violence in the state.