Kaduna won’t negotiate with criminals, says commissioner

Samuel Aruwan, Kaduna commissioner of internal security and home affairs, says the state will not negotiate with criminals.

Speaking at a meeting with Chukwuma Okonkwo, a major-general and the new commander of Operation Safe Haven, in Kafanchan on Saturday, Aruwan said the government would not succumb to emotions and diversionary tactics.

Operation Safe Haven is headquartered in Jos, Plateau state.

The commissioner said the statutory responsibility of the government is to secure lives and properties, vowing that it would continue to do so.

“Government will not succumb to emotions and diversionary tactics. We have a constitutional and statutory responsibility to protect lives and property, and we will continue to pursue that course. Everyone must recourse to the law,” he said.

“Only the government and the courts have the power to arbitrate and dispense justice, and the law is blind in this regard. God is the giver of life, and no group of individuals can stake a valid claim to wipe out any race of people.

“Criminals must be treated as criminals without recourse to religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.”

The commissioner said although there have been challenges in tackling insecurity, a lot of successes have been recorded also.

“Several successes were achieved in the area of de-escalating violence, containing threats to law and order and curtailing the spate of wanton killings,” he said.

“On several occasions, your officers and men repelled attacks, arrested bandits and also recovered arms and ammunition. There are instances where they came under heavy attack.

“They applied tact and professionalism in line with the standard best practices as they did the needful. These are giant strides and we can’t forget in a hurry.

“We are grateful to the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin, the service chiefs, the Inspector General of Police, the director of the DSS and the commandant of the NSCDC for their tremendous support.”