Buhari not silent on Southern Kaduna violence, Presidency

*Says all security measures so far President’s directives

President Muhammadu Buhari has, over the past week, given instructions for decisive measures aimed at bringing an end to the recurring acts of violence and destruction in the Southern part of Kaduna State.

A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, stated this in a statement in he issued on Thursday.

The presence and actions of the Inspector-General of Police in the affected part of the state, Garba Shehu said, was based on the instructions of President Buhari, meaning that there was no time that the President had relaxed when he needed to be on at work providing security and governance.

“On the directive of President Buhari, the Inspector-General of Police was in the region on Saturday and Sunday to assess the situation at first hand.  In addition to the conventional policemen deployed in the area, a squadron of mobile policemen has now been stationed there.

“The Nigerian Army is also in the process of setting up two battalions in Southern Kaduna while the military continues to carry out air surveillance across flash points of the area.

“President Buhari has equally directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to carry out a joint assessment of the situation with the sister agency in Kaduna, SEMA, to determine the level of response required for urgent aid to the victims of the violence.

“These measures should soon ensure the return of normalcy to the region, while the Kaduna State government continues its peace building efforts.

“The President commended efforts of the State government and the security agencies in the steps taken so far to curtail the violence.

“President Buhari has, once again, sent condolences to the people of Southern Kaduna, who have lost loved ones in the recent violence,” Garba Shehu said in the statement.