Southern Kaduna killings: Some religious leaders’ reckless statements to blame, says El-Rufai

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El – Rufai, on
Saturday blamed the killings in Southern Kaduna on
the reckless statements by some religious leaders .
According to a statement , the governor said this when
the National Chairman of Jama ’ atul Izalatul Bid’ ah wa
Iqamatul Sunnah , Sheikh Abdullahi Lau, and other
Izala leaders paid him a visit on Saturday . Speaking with journalists , El – Rufai noted that the Izala
leaders came to be briefed on the security situation in
the state and that “ they received briefings from the
Commissioner of Internal Security as well as the
Deputy Governor . ”
He said , “ We also solicited their support and prayers to
see the end of this crisis because we are of the strong
view that at the bottom of this crisis are the reckless
statements of some religious leaders .
“ If religious leaders decide firmly that people should
live in peace and preach that consistently , it will lead
to peaceful coexistence in our state . ”
El – Rufai also said that the root of the crisis in southern
Kaduna “ lies in differences in religion and ethnicity.
And religious leaders can play a very unifying or
divisive role . What we have witnessed in the last few
years is that they have been playing a more divisive
than a unifying role . ”
“ That is why we welcome the outreach by religious
leaders and we presented them with all the facts , and
for them to use the holy books to guide how they will
preach to their congregations , ” the governor added .
Also , Lau called on the need for calm in the state ,
adding that they visited the governor to identify ways
of fostering peace .