Nigerian military admit that they lack the required manpower to provide security in southern Kaduna

NIGERIA'S military high command has confessed that it does not have the necessary manpower to tackle the ongoing violence in the southern part of Kaduna State following the recent attacks that has led to the deaths of about 55 people.

On July 20 about nine people were killed following an attack on Gora Gan village in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area which occurred at around 7.00pm. A day earlier, murderers suspected of being Fulani herdsmen, armed with guns and machetes attacked a wedding reception at a home in Kukum Daji village in the Kaura Local Government Area at around 10.30pm, killing 15 and injuring another 30 people. 

Over the last 10 or so years, southern Kaduna has been a hotbed of violence as communal clashes between Fulani Muslims and the local Christian Kagoro people has left thousands dead. This week, the attacks resumed after a lull, attracting nationwide condemnation, with the security agencies lambasted for failing to address the situation.

However, Major General Chukwuemeka Okonkwo, the commander of Operation Safe Haven, the military programme designed to provide security in Kaduna State, said they do not have enough manpower to tackle the violence in the southern part of the state. Speaking after a security meeting presided over by Governor Nasir el-Rufai, he added that the military is strategising on how to boost security.

Major General Okonkwo said: “What we have were attacks on some communities and reprisal attacks. You have Kataf youths, Fulani militias and the criminal elements of both sides.

“Any incident is enough to spark off crisis in that area as there have been lingering disputes and animosities, banditry and cattle rustling there. We have reviewed our operations, we are going to close ranks and we are going to be more robust in the days to come."

According to the commander, more soldiers will be deployed in the area to tackle the criminal elements responsible for the killings and destruction in the area. He, however, called on communities in Southern Kaduna to embrace peace, adding that a conducive atmosphere will be created for them to meet, dialogue and resolve issues amicably.

General Okonkwo added: "We have the limitation of manpower but be that as it may, we are going to get more troops. We are strategising, we will deploy as much as possible to shorten our response time."

Governor el-Rufai said his administration has done everything within its constitutional powers to bring peace to the area. He added: "We answered the decades old demand for a permanent military base by working with the federal government to deploy a forward operating base of the Nigerian Army in Kafanchan.

“Our government purchased an estate to provide accommodation for a permanent mobile police squadron in the area. Also, deployed in area are troops from Operation Safe Haven and Nigerian Army Special Forces, complemented by two mobile police squadrons.”