By Luka Binniyat

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has disagreed with the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, on the number of people killed in the Southern Kaduna crises.

However, CAN, Kaduna State chapter, yesterday, said that the statement attributed to the Inspector General disputing the casualty figure of native Christians provided little hope that Southern Kaduna will ever be secured by the police.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan had alleged that the unrest in Southern Kaduna had claimed over 808 lives in 53 villages.

But Idris disputed the claim in Abuja at the New Year dinner organised by the Nigeria Police Force for its personnel.

At the event, while stressing the need for religious, community and political leaders to be patriotic in their endeavours for peace to reign in the country, the police boss cautioned Nigerians to avoid unnecessary tension, which could lead to destruction of lives and property.

Idris advised Nigerians to live in peace with one another in spite of religious and ethnic differences.

He commended officers and men of the force for their commitment to providing security to Nigerians across the country and restated the Force’s commitment to providing adequate security without bias.

IGP-Idris

CAN reacts

Secretary of CAN, Kaduna State chapter, Rev. Sunday Ibrahim, in a chat with Vanguard yesterday, said: “We challenge the IG to produce his figure. This should not be coming from him at all.

“It is the duty of police to properly get the public informed on situations like these. But as it stands now, the police in Kaduna State may not have briefed him on the casualty figure and the scale of destruction in Southern Kaduna, or they may have briefed him and he chose to ignore the facts.

“CAN, Kaduna State chapter, stands by the figure produced by Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan. That Diocese is in the epicentre of the killings and many of its members are victims of these unjustified killings.

“We are people of truth, faith and perseverance and we are not given to lies. Even if one person was killed, does it not call for every measure to be deployed by police to secure others and the culprit apprehended? Is that why the President has been quiet on the matter?

“But the President worries and take tough solutions over the stealing of cows and sends condolence messages when nationals of other countries are killed, even in much fewer numbers than those killed in Southern Kaduna.

“So until 100,000 people are murdered and the entire Southern Kaduna destroyed before the IG takes it serious. This is very unfortunate indeed. This kind of utterance on the ongoing tragedy, coming from the number one police officer in the country, does not give us much hope that he will provide security.”