Kaduna crisis: I have the full support of Buhari to move on, says el-Rufai

Nasir El-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, says President Muhammadu Buhari is in support of the curfew imposed on three local government areas (LGAs) in the state.

On Wednesday, the Kaduna government declared a 24-hour curfew in Zangon-Kataf, Kaura and Jema’a LGAs.

This was as a result of disorderliness in the areas. Some aggrieved persons attacked the convoy of el-Rufai  on Tuesday, and an innocent man was killed on Monday.

Both incidents happened in Kanfachan, one of the major towns in Southern Kaduna.

Speaking with journalists at the presidential villa in Abuja on Thursday, el-Rufai said he came to brief Buhari on the situation of things in Kaduna.

“‎I came to brief the president about the situation in Southern Kaduna, what happened in the last few days and outlined to him the measures we have been taking as state government with the support of the Nigerian army, the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Security (DSS),” he said.

“The president has given us unqualified support to stabilise the state and bring all those responsible for the violation of our laws to justice.

“So, we have the full support of the president to move on and we are quiet confident that things will return to normal very soon.”

El-Rufai said the curfew would be relaxed for 12 hours on Christmas day.

“Well, we have curfew even on Christmas day but it is for twelve hours. People will be able to get out in the morning at 6am and be back at 6pm, it is because of the security situation,” he said.

“I don’t think the state government should be blamed, those responsible for the violence that broke out in those parts of the state should be held responsible for that.”