The federal government has warned opinion and religious leaders to refrain from giving religious connotation to the crisis between herdsmen and farmers in Southern Kaduna.
Abdulrahman Dambazau, minister of interior, gave the warning in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said it became expedient following insinuations that the violence in the region had religious interpretation.
Dambazau said some people were always looking for ways to further create division along religious or ethnic fault lines for their selfish interest.
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“True religious leaders do not fan the embers of hate, but ensure that communities live in peace and harmony,” read a statement issued on his behalf by Ehisienmen Osaigbovo, his press secretary.
Dambazau said those who perpetrate violence against innocent, law-abiding citizens do not discriminate along religious and ethnic lines, citing examples of how Communities in Zamfara, Katsina, Taraba, Enugu, Lagos and Niger were attacked by “violent criminals”.
“A criminal should be treated as such, whether he is involved in armed robbery, drug trafficking, homicides or cattle rustling,” he said.
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“People should avoid honouring criminals with religious or ethnic attachment.”
He advised religious leaders to focus on the real enemies of our society, who illegally acquire weapons to terrorise Christians and Muslims communities alike.
Dambazau said he had directed the Nigerian police to ensure the sustenance of law and order, and to arrest and prosecute anyone involved in criminal activities in the area and across the country.
He urged citizens to cooperate with the police by providing information in its quest to restore normalcy to the troubled communities.
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Dambazau assured Nigerians of government’s commitment to tackling the root causes of similar crisis in all parts of the country.
Different religious groups have traded blames over the crisis in the region.
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