Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has said that his administration has committed over N4 billion in funding for security agencies as part of efforts to bring the level of insecurity in the State to a manageable level.
El-Rufai also urged the senate to appropriate more funds to the police and other security agencies to enable them discharge their duties of protecting lives and properties.
He said this when members of the Senate ad-hoc committee on the Kaduna Crisis paid him a visit at the government house, in Kaduna.
El-Rufai also added that the federal government should also increase funding to security agencies to enable them better police the nation against terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other forms of criminality in the state and Nigeria in general.
The Governor reminded the lawmaker that the security agencies were not under the immediate control of state governments; hence governors are not directly responsible for how they carry out their operations.
“As the Chief Security Officer of the state, we really do not have control over the security agencies, but we have committed so much in funding security agencies in the state,” he said.
“We have bought even bullet proof vests; we have committed four billion naira in support of security agencies in the state.
“There is also need for training and retraining of security agencies, and the purchase of additional security equipment.
“The state government will continue to support the security agencies in the state even though it is the responsibility of the federal government.”
El-Rufai noted that the crisis in Kaduna had been there even before he assumed office, adding that he will do his best to bring it to an end.
“When we came in we met three main problems on ground, cattle rustling,urban gang and communal killings.
“I will do whatever it takes to deploy resources to facilitate the takeoff of the proposed military garrison in Southern Kaduna.”
The Governor also said that part of the reasons the crisis has lingered till now is because the perpetrators have always gotten away with their crimes and nobody has been held responsible or punished.
He said that those saying that he was a religious fanatic and had been indirectly encouraging the so-called killing of Christians, were just being mischievous, adding that his government will punish culprits this time.
“I am the governor of Kaduna state,” he said, “if you break the law you will be punished.”
“The entire Kaduna city has been divided and there is need to regain the confidence and mixed together.”
“I am not an ethnic jingoist or a religious bigot so those who alleged that I am sponsoring Southern Kaduna crisis are just mischievous, no governor wants crisis in his state,” El-Rufai maintained.
Leader of the Senate delegation, Kabiru Gaya, told the governor that his committee was in the state to assess the situation.
He said that the committee was set up to investigate the causes of the frequent attacks in Kaduna State.
“Part of the mission of the Adhoc committee are to interact , discuss with government, stakeholders, community leaders, security agencies and other relevant bodies that will contribute to bringing lasting peace,” he said.
Gaya however criticized politicians in the State for using the crisis to score cheap political points.