'Army, police have failed, now we'll defend ourselves' - Resident

dimeji akinloye

April 18, 2017 3:52 AM

The witness said the people have lost faith in the security agencies and that they may have to take laws into their own hands.

Southern Kaduna killings

The security personnel deployed to southern

The Federal Government had in December sent troops to southern Kaduna to end the violence there, but the killings have not stopped.

The witness, who wanted his identity protected, said with the escalating situation in the region, the people may have no choice but to defend themselves as they have lost faith in the security agencies.

Recalling the latest attack, he told The Cable on Monday, April 17, that said the assailants struck in Asso village, Kagoma chiefdom, Jama’a local government, between 7pm and 8pm on Easter Saturday.

Multiple reports said 13 persons were killed in the attack, but the eyewitness could not confirm this.

He said: "They were armed with AK-47 ‎riffles… they started shooting sporadically immediately they entered the village.

“I can’t tell of the number of people that were killed, but many sustained injuries from gunshots.

"The latest attack is an indication that the security agencies can no longer protect us. We are now left with no option than to defend ourselves since the soldiers and policemen deployed to ensure safety of lives and property have failed us."

ALSO READ: 10 things El-Rufai said about Southern Kaduna killings [VIDEO]

The state Governor Nasir El-Rufai has condemned the killings. He urged security agencies to "redouble their efforts in fishing out those behind the killings, and act promptly on carefully vetted intelligence."

dimeji akinloye