Ijaw Youths Council Berates el-Rufai For Comments On Impending Militant Attack On Southern Kaduna

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) on Tuesday took a swipe at Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai for warning of an impending attack on southern Kaduna by Niger Delta militants. In a statement issued in Yenagoa by IYC spokesman Eric Omare, the group stated that Mr. el-Rufai is inciting the people of Kaduna State, and by implication, the entire North, against Niger Deltans by his statement that Niger Delta militants have been hired to carry out attacks in southern Kaduna. "This statement is reckless and highly condemnable. Mallam el-Rufai, having failed in his duty to protect the lives and properties of the people of southern Kaduna, should not use innocent Niger Deltans as scapegoats. Niger Deltans have no business going all the way to Kaduna or any part of Nigeria to attack Nigerians," Mr. Omare said in the press statement. "We call on Nigerians and the security agencies to hold Governor el-Rufai responsible for any attack on Niger Deltans in the North as a result of his irresponsible statement. "The Fulani herdsmen, who el-Rufai paid for killing people, are well known to the world, hence Niger Deltans should not be linked under any circumstances to the unwarranted killings going on in southern Kaduna. "We also call the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, bring the killings in southern Kaduna to a stop and bring the perpetrators to justice, including Governor el-Rufai."