Police Parades 17 Suspected Fulani Herdsmen Linked to Southern Kaduna Killings

The Police at Force headquarters on Wednesday paraded 17 suspects arrested in connection with the violence in Kafanchan and environs in Southern Kaduna which has claimed the lives of many persons and led to destruction of property.

The 17 suspects according to the Force Public relations Officer, CSP Jimoh Moshood were arrested for inciting public disturbance, disturbance of public peace, causing mischief by fire, culpable homicide, theft and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms.

Explaining how the suspects were arrested, CSP Moshood said, "Concerned by the recent unfortunate sectarian crisis in Kafanchan and neighbouring communities in Kaduna state where so many lives were lost and properties worth millions of naira destroyed, and the need to put a final stop to the crisis, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris constituted a Joint Tactical Operations Squad.

"The Squad known as Operation Harmony comprised the Police Mobile Squad, Counter Terrorism Unit, Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Intelligence Response Team, SIB, Explosive Ordinance Department, IGP Monitoring Unit, Police K9 (Sniffer Dog Section), Police Air Wing and Police Medical Team with headquarters in Kafanchan.

Suspects in Southern Kaduna killings "The Operation recorded remarkable achievements in tackling the crisis and preventing further disturbance of public peace across Southern Kaduna. [

The suspects made up of both Fulani herdsmen and Natives of Southern Kaduna include Nelson Paul, the arms supplier to the suspects; Bulus Jatau, Magaji Shuaibu, Danlami Yakubu, Idris Bello, Danjuma Barde, Goma Adamu, Samuel Joshua, and Abdulkareem Abdul. Others are Haruna Ilyasu, Hassan Idris, Adamu Haruna, Adamu Umar, Suleiman Saleh, Abubakar Muhammadu, and Muhammadu Jori.

The Force PRO gave a breakdown of arms and ammunition recovered from the suspects saying, "A total number of 29 assorted firearms and ammunition were recovered from their possession.

"All the suspects will be charged to court on completion of investigation for inciting public disturbance, disturbance of public peace, causing mischief by fire, culpable homicide, theft and unlawful possession of arms" Moshood said.

Responding to questions, the FPRO said more suspects will soon be arrested noting that investigations was still going on concerning individual and collective roles played in the crisis.

He assured the people and communities of Southern Kaduna of the resolve of the IGP to ensure adequate security and protection of lives and property while enjoining them to be law abiding and give peace a chance to prevail and cooperate with the police personnel deployed in their localities.

When asked how he got the guns he sold to the other suspects, Nelson Paul said he got them from Plateau State adding that he sold each of the guns which included 3 AK 47 Rifles, between N30, 000 and N40, 000.